P.
P. Sreeramakrishnan of the CPM was elected the Speaker of the 14th Assembly of Kerala on Friday amid charges of a nexus between the LDF and the BJP, cross-voting by a UDF MLA and an invalid vote cast by independent P.C. George.
Protem Speaker S. Sarma, who presided over the election, abstained from voting as per precedence. Mr Sreeramakrishnan, Ponnani MLA, obtained 92 votes (strength of the LDF is 91) and V.P. Sajeendran from the UDF got 46 votes, one less than its strength.
O. Rajagopal of the BJP, while delivering his felicitation speech, said he voted for Mr Sreeramakrishnan because of his name which has “Sree Rama” and “Krishnan” in it.
The Speaker, after assuming charge, announced that Mr Chennithala had been elected the leader of the Opposition and P.K. Kunhalikutty of the Muslim League the Opposition deputy Leader.
Soon after the elections, a controversy erupted with the UDF alleging a nexus between the LDF and the BJP.
Mr Chennithala told reporters that the UDF did not need the cooperation of the BJP in the Assembly. The party would examine how the UDF lost one vote. It may have happened due to inexperience, he said.
The Assembly, adjourned for the day after the election, will be reconvened on June 24.
