Thiruvananthapuram, 22 May (H.S.): The Kerala Legislative Assembly is set to elect its new Speaker on Friday, with United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan widely expected to secure an easy victory owing to the ruling coalition’s comfortable majority in the House.
Thiruvanchoor, a senior Congress leader and experienced legislator, enters the contest as the clear frontrunner as the UDF enjoys a dominant position in the newly constituted 16th Kerala Assembly. His election is considered virtually certain unless there is an unexpected political development.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have also fielded candidates in the Speaker election, primarily to register their political position and presence in the Assembly despite lacking the numerical strength required to challenge the ruling alliance.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has nominated former minister and senior CPI(M) leader A.C. Moideen as its candidate for the post. Though the opposition alliance is not expected to alter the outcome, the contest reflects its intention to formally stake its claim and articulate its political stand in the House.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured representation in the Kerala Assembly this time by winning three seats, has also decided to enter the contest. BJP has fielded B.B. Gopakumar, MLA from Chathannoor in Kollam district, as its candidate for Speaker.
The BJP's decision carries symbolic significance, as this is the first time in the history of the Kerala Legislative Assembly that the party has fielded a candidate in a Speaker election. Gopakumar’s nomination will be proposed in the House by the BJP’s other two legislators, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V. Muraleedharan.
Voting to elect the new Speaker is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. inside the Assembly. Voting will take place according to seating arrangements, with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan expected to cast the first vote.
Following the declaration of results, convention dictates that the newly elected Speaker will be escorted to the Speaker’s chair by the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The Assembly will not meet from May 23 to May 28. Governor’s policy address is scheduled for May 29, while the Deputy Speaker election will take place on June 1. Discussions on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address are scheduled from June 1 to June 3.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
