Shanimol Osman becomes Kerala Deputy Speaker, first woman to hold post in 35 years

Shanimol Osman: Senior Congress leader and Aroor MLA Shanimol Osman was on Tuesday elected as the Deputy Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, marking the return of a woman to the post after a gap of 35 years.

Shanimol defeated Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate and CPI MLA Muhammad Muhsin in the election held in the Assembly. Backed by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which holds a comfortable majority in the 140-member House, she secured 99 votes, while Muhsin received 34 votes.

The three BJP MLAs abstained from the voting process, while Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan did not cast his vote as per Assembly convention.

With her victory, Shanimol Osman has become only the fourth woman to serve as Deputy Speaker in Kerala’s legislative history. She represents the Aroor constituency in Alappuzha district, while Muhsin is the MLA from Pattambi in Palakkad district.

The election took place during the ongoing first session of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, which began on May 21. Earlier, senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was elected Speaker with 101 votes.

The Assembly session resumed on Tuesday without Question Hour. However, Zero Hour, Calling Attention motions and Adjournment Motions were included in the day’s proceedings.

Key issues expected to be discussed in the House included the displacement of residents at Malayidam Thuruthu, pre-monsoon sanitation and cleaning activities and the rising fuel prices. The LDF also planned to move an Adjournment Motion during Zero Hour.