Congress MLA Shanimol Osman was elected deputy speaker of the 16th Kerala legislative assembly on Tuesday, making history as the first woman to hold the post in 35 years. She secured 99 votes in the election, defeating Communist Party of India (CPI) MLA Mohammed Muhsin, who polled 34 votes. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan did not cast his vote.
Historic Achievement
With her victory, Osman became the fourth woman deputy speaker in the history of the Kerala assembly. The last woman to hold the post was former CPI member Bhargavi Thankappan, who served as deputy speaker from 1987 to 1991. Osman's election marks a significant milestone for women's representation in the state's legislature.
Voting Details
The voting process saw a few absences and abstentions. Of the 35 Left Democratic Front (LDF) members, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA C K Hareendran was absent during the voting. Two United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs — Abid Hussain Thangal and Sandeep Warrier — were also not present in the House. The three National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MLAs abstained from the election.
Shanimol Osman, a Congress leader from the Aroor constituency, has been a prominent figure in Kerala politics. Her election as deputy speaker is seen as a recognition of her contributions and a step towards greater gender parity in the assembly.
