Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 (UNI) CPI(M)-led Left Demoractic Front (LDF) Candidate MB Rajesh, representing Trithala Assembly Constituency in Palakkad has been elected as the 23rd Speaker of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
In the election held for the Speaker post, Mr Rajesh polled 96 votes against 40 by his Congress-led UDF candidate PC Vishnunath, who had elected from Kundara Assembly constituency in the April 6 election.
Three MLAs were absent during the voting which began soon after the house assembled for the day this morning.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote first. The election was held under Pro-term Speaker, Advocate PTA Rahim.
Two LDF members, V Abdurahiman of Tanur and K Babu of Nenmara and a UDF member M Vincent of Kovalam were absent due to health issues.
Soon after the announcement of the result, the new Speaker was escorted to the Speaker's Chair by Mr Vijayan and Opposition leader VD Satheesan.
Later, the Chief Minister, the Opposition leader and other leaders of parliamentary parties congratulated the new Speaker.
After today's session, the House will assemble again only on May 28 for the Governor's customary policy address.
MB Rajesh was also a former Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha.
Mr Rajesh is the eldest son of Balakrishnan Nair and M. K. Remani. He was born in Jalandhar, Punjab on March 12, 1971.
A native of Chalavara, Shornur in Palakkad district of Kerala, Rajesh is a graduate in Law from the University of Kerala and a postgraduate in economics from the NSS College, Ottapalam affiliated to the University of Calicut.
By profession, he is an advocate. Rajesh is married to R. Ninitha who was a member of the Central Secretariat of SFI and former Chairperson of Calicut University Students Union.
He also held positions including the Joint Secretary and Vice President of SFI Central Committee. After his student life, he was active in the DYFI where he became the National President. Rajesh is now a member of the Kerala state committee of CPI(M).
The session is being held under strict COVID protocol. Those persons, including media persons having RT-PCR/TRUNAT/RT-LAMP, Antigen negative results or on the production of a final certificate of COVID-19 vaccination were allowed to enter the Assembly complex.
Common public were not allowed to enter the Assembly during the session due to surge in COVID-19 cases.
During the 14-day session which will end on June 14, Finance Minister K N Balagopal will present the revised budget for 2021-22 and vote-on-account at 0900 hours on June 4.
Earlier, the Cabinet has formed a four-member sub-committee, namely KN Balagopal, K Rajan, K Krishnakutty and AK Saseendran as its members, to prepare a draft for the policy speech of the Governor, who will make the customary policy address on May 28.
The discussion on the 'Motion of Thanks to the Governor's policy address will be held on May 31, June 1 and 2.
In the140-member Assembly, the LDF has a strength of 99 legislators and UDF has 41 MLAs.
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