The media boycott of assembly proceedings and all politicians has ended in something of a muddle, with contradicting news emanating on the issue.

The episode, which began with assembly Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman ruling that it was not in the best interests of the house that the entire proceedings of the assembly were shown on television channels, prompted both the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and the Kerala Journalists' Union (KJU) to oppose the speaker's verdict and demand their 'right' to cover the complete proceedings in the assembly.

A solution to the episode seemed to have been arrived at yesterday when the KUWJ declared that it was ending the month-long agitation following some positive assurances from the speaker. According to reports appearing in newspapers yesterday, the speaker had assured the KUWJ office bearers that the freedom which the visual media had in covering the question hour would continue. The coverage would however be subject to certain conditions set by the speaker, newspaper reports said.

It also mentioned that the conciliatory talks had arrived at the decision that passes would be provided to press photographers and cameramen of various television channels to enter the press room in the assembly complex.

But Speaker Purushothaman yesterday rubbished whatever appeared in the press, stating that he had not agreed to any concessions and that it was the press fraternity that had wanted to call off their agitation. The statement is considered a blow to the media who had stated that the problem had been solved amicably.

To add to the confusion, the KJU members said that the agitation had not been called off. Many in the media aggrieved by the speaker's decision to curb the house coverage, are members of the visual media.

The ongoing tiff between them and the political bosses has also been causing embarrassing moments during press meets. State Industry Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty was the latest to face such a situation when he was asked by a reporter why the government was against electronic media, at a press conference that was called to announce the results of a public sector undertaking.

Kunhalikutty ducked the question, stating that his party was not against any particular media, but hastened to add that the media should not twist his statement and carry on prime time that his party was willing to own up to mistakes committed against the media.