Thiruvananthapuram, Nov. 2 -- Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday declared the state free of extreme poverty. Vijayan made the announcement in a special session of the House convened on the occasion of Kerala 'Piravi' or formation day and later at a public event held at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in the evening. At the massive public event attended by Malayalam film superstar Mammootty, he said that eradication of extreme poverty from the state "was a reality and not a fraud". He was responding to the opposition Congress-led UDF allegation that the government's declaration was a "fraud" and a "public relations exercise" in view of upcoming local polls. In the morning, as the special assembly session commenced, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan said that the CM's statement via rule 300 (a procedural rule that allows the government to make important statements) was "pure fraud" and in "contempt" of House rules. "So, we cannot join in that and are completely boycotting the session," Satheesan said. The opposition then walked out of the House shouting slogans that the claim was a "fraud" and that it was "shameful". The CM said the UDF was referring to its own habits when they say "fraud". "We only say what we can implement. We have implemented what we had said. That is our reply to the opposition leader," he said. htc...