Radhakrishnan elected new Kerala Speaker

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forty three-year-old K Radhakrishnan of CPI (M) was on Thursday elected as the Speaker of the 12th Legislative Assembly in Kerala.

He defeated Murali of the Congress by 93 votes against 40.

Known for his affable behaviour and sincere approach to issues, Radhakrishnan was first elected to the Assembly in 1996 and became minister for welfare of backward and scheduled communities in the EK Nayanar government.

In the previous Assembly, he was the chief whip of the Opposition Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). He is representing Chelakara in the Assembly for the third consecutive term.

Pro-tem Speaker VJ Thankappan was in the chair when voting began at 0900 hrs. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan was the first to cast his ballot.

After the results were announced, Achuthanandan and former CM Oommen Chandy led Radhakrishnan to the Speaker's chair.

Congratulating the new Speaker, Achuthanandan said Radhakrishnan was the first Speaker in the House representing a scheduled community.