The Kerala assembly's first session after Oommen Chandy became chief minister is expected to be stormy, with the opposition determined to take on the government on a wide variety of issues.

The session begins Wednesday and will conclude Dec 15. Chandy took over from A.K. Antony Aug 31.

The government's major worry is two raging sex scandals in which the opposition is determined to nail down Chandy for not handling it properly.

The opposition's ire will be directed at Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who is alleged to have sexually abused a 22-year-old eight years ago.

Although the opposition has demanded that Kunhalikutty resign, Chandy has stood firm saying the law would take its own course.

With Kunhalikutty keeping away from all public functions and the opposition threatening to bar him from entering the assembly, the authorities' first priority will be to maintain law and order.

"Even though we are yet to decide on a strategy of nailing the government, one thing is certain - Kunhalikutty will be boycotted on the floor of the house," thundered opposition leader P.C. George while speaking to IANS.

Another issue worrying the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) would be the attitude of the two groups of Kerala Congress, whose leaders R. Balakrishna Pillai and T.M. Jacob are angry over not being included in the government.

They are expected to spit venom against Chandy over the manner they have been treated.

The feud in the two-legislator Revolutionary Socialist Party (B), another ally of the ruling front, is also going to put Chandy in a tight spot.

"Apart from these, what has the government done? All the sectors of Kerala's economy are on the verge of ruin," said George.

To make things worse for the ruling front, new Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan is a soft-spoken politician unlike his predecessor Vakkom Purushothaman, whom the opposition found a hard nut to crack.

--Indo-Asian News Service