CPI(M) legislator A. N. Shamseer was elected Speaker of the Kerala Assembly on Monday.
Mr. Shamseer, who was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the election to the post, defeated Congress MLA and United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Anwar Sadat by 96 to 40 votes. Mr. Shamseer's victory was expected as the LDF has 99 seats against 41 of the UDF in the House.
Mr. Shamseer succeeds his party colleague M. B. Rajesh as the Speaker. The post fell vacant after the latter replaced M. V. Govindan as Minister for Local Self-Government following a rejig in the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry. Mr. Govindan had stepped down as minister to take over as State secretary of the CPI(M).
