Thiruvananthapuram, May 21: The oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected members of the 16th Kerala Assembly commenced on Thursday morning. This event marks the formal beginning of a house that has undergone significant political upheaval in the state’s recent history.
The proceedings began at 9 AM when Protem Speaker G. Sudhakaran, who was sworn in by Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar on Wednesday, took his seat in the assembly.
Members were called to take their oaths in alphabetical order, with the first to do so being V.E. Abdul Gafoor, the Fisheries Minister from the Indian Union Muslim League.
Beyond this routine constitutional ceremony, the meeting on Thursday showcased the shocking political turnaround orchestrated by Kerala voters in the April 2026 assembly elections.
The benches of the ruling party, once dominated by the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, were now filled with confidence and celebration. The Congress-led UDF has claimed a record 102 members in the 140-member house.
Laughter, congratulations, and camaraderie characterized the atmosphere among this newly empowered coalition. In stark contrast, the opposition benches appeared somber and quiet.
The opposition has dwindled to just 38 members, comprising 35 from the Left Democratic Front and three from the BJP. This marks a significant drop from the previous assembly, where the coalition had 99 members. This electoral mandate is widely viewed as a farewell to former Chief Minister Vijayan after a decade in power.
While Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is positioned at 105, his predecessor Vijayan ranks at 133.
The morning session also featured some light-hearted and symbolic moments. BJP leaders Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. Muraleedharan, and B.B. Gopakumar drew attention as they walked together from the ‘Shaheed Corner’ to the assembly, captivating both the audience and party workers present.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Chandy Oommen maintained his campaign style by cycling to the assembly on the day of the oath-taking ceremony.
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