Thiruvananthapuram, May 21: The stage is set for a significant political contest in the Kerala Assembly. All three major fronts have decided to field candidates for the Speaker elections scheduled for Friday. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) currently enjoys a comfortable majority in the house.
In the 140-member assembly, the ruling party holds 102 seats, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has 35, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds three seats.
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is a strong contender for the UDF’s Speaker nomination. However, both the LDF and BJP have chosen to enter the fray to assert their political presence in the new assembly.
The LDF has nominated former minister and senior CPI(M) leader A.C. Moideen, while the BJP has introduced a new chapter in assembly history by nominating first-time MLA B.B. Gopakumar from Chathannoor.
This marks the first time the BJP is contesting the Speaker position in Kerala. Gopakumar’s candidacy will be proposed by BJP legislators Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V. Muraleedharan.
The election for the Deputy Speaker will also take place on Friday, with the UDF nominating Shanimol Usman for the role.
Meanwhile, the oath-taking ceremony for newly elected legislators showcased a unique blend of formalities, political messages, and emotional moments. This event commenced under the supervision of Protem Speaker G. Sudhakaran.
Members took their oaths in alphabetical order, with the first legislator to take the oath being Fisheries and Social Justice Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor, representing the Kalamassery constituency.
Several members swore in the name of God, while others opted for a more serious approach. O.S. Ambika, the MLA from Attingal, became the first woman member to take the oath, while A.K.M. Ashraf from Manjeshwaram took his oath in Kannada.
The assembly witnessed politically symbolic moments, including greetings exchanged between former CPI(M) leaders V. Kunhikannan and T.K. Govindan, who won their seats with UDF support after parting ways with the Left parties.
During the oath-taking, Kunhikannan acknowledged opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan, while Govindan walked over to shake hands with the former Chief Minister, prompting applause from the ruling benches. Vijayan responded with a smile and stood up to warmly welcome him.
The assembly will reconvene on May 29 for Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar’s policy address. Discussions on the address are scheduled from June 1 to 3, with the new UDF government expected to present its full budget in June.
The government is also preparing a ‘white paper’ on Kerala’s financial situation, indicating that the state’s fiscal health will be a key topic of discussion in the early stages of the new administration.
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