Shanimol Osman elected Kerala Assembly Deputy Speaker, 4th woman in 66 years
Synopsis
For the first time in 66 years, a Congress woman sits in Kerala's Deputy Speaker chair. Shanimol Osman's 99-34 victory over the CPI nominee is more than a numbers story — it closes a chapter that began with A. Nafeesath Beevi in 1960 and marks only the fourth time in Kerala's legislative history that a woman has held the post.
Key Takeaways
Shanimol Osman was elected Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Assembly on 2 June 2026 .
She secured 99 votes against CPI nominee Muhammed Muhassin's 34 votes ; four legislators abstained.
She is the first Congress woman to hold the post in 66 years and only the fourth woman in Kerala's legislative history to do so.
The last Congress Deputy Speaker was A.
Nafeesath Beevi in 1960 ; the last woman in the chair was CPI's Bhargavi Thankapan in 1987 .
Osman, a two-time MLA representing Aroor , has contested six elections including the 2019 Lok Sabha from Alappuzha.
The BJP's three MLAs did not participate in the vote.
Congress legislator Shanimol Osman was on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 elected Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, becoming the first woman from the Indian National Congress (INC) to hold the post in 66 years and only the fourth woman in the state's legislative history to occupy the chair. The election, held in the 140-member House in Thiruvananthapuram, was declared by Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan following a formal vote.
Vote Count and Margin
Osman secured 99 votes against 34 votes polled by the Communist Party of India (CPI) nominee and three-time MLA Muhammed Muhassin. Four legislators abstained, including Speaker Radhakrishnan himself, who disclosed the tally from the chair. The result reflected the commanding numerical strength of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which currently holds 102 seats in the Assembly. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has 25 members, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds three seats. The BJP's legislators remained seated and did not participate in the vote.
Osman's Political Journey
Osman, who represents the Aroor constituency, assumed the constitutional post just three days after turning 60. Her path to the Deputy Speaker's chair spans a long and often arduous electoral career: she has contested six elections, including the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Alappuzha. She recorded her first legislative victory in the 2019 Alappuzha Assembly by-election, lost the subsequent 2021 Assembly election, and returned to the legislature with a win from Aroor in the 2026 Assembly polls. Known for her composed and soft-spoken style, she is regarded as a seasoned Congress leader within Kerala's political circles.
A Historic Milestone for Kerala's Legislature
Osman's election ends a near four-decade gap in women's representation in the Deputy Speaker's chair. The last woman to hold the post was CPI leader Bhargavi Thankapan in 1987. The last Congress leader to serve as Deputy Speaker was A. Nafeesath Beevi, elected to the post in 1960 — making Osman the first Congress woman in the role in 66 years. Historically, the first Kerala Legislative Assembly had seen CPI leader K.O. Aisha Bai serve as Deputy Speaker, establishing an early precedent for women in presiding roles that was rarely followed in subsequent decades.
Ceremony and What Comes Next
Following the declaration of results, Speaker Radhakrishnan asked Osman to take her new seat — the first seat in the opposition benches, positioned next to Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, who congratulated her. The Deputy Speaker's role carries constitutional weight, presiding over the House in the Speaker's absence and serving on key legislative committees. With the UDF holding a firm majority, Osman is expected to play an active role in shaping the Assembly's proceedings over the term.
Point of View
Which means the real question is whether the appointment translates into substantive legislative influence or remains a milestone on paper. The near-total BJP abstention, meanwhile, signals early friction in what is likely to be a combative Assembly term.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shanimol Osman and why is her election historic?
Shanimol Osman is a Congress legislator from the Aroor constituency in Kerala who was elected Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Assembly on 2 June 2026. She is the first Congress woman to hold the post in 66 years and only the fourth woman in the state's legislative history to occupy the Deputy Speaker's chair.
What was the vote count in the Kerala Deputy Speaker election?
Osman won with 99 votes against 34 polled by CPI nominee Muhammed Muhassin. Four legislators, including Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, abstained. The BJP's three MLAs did not participate.
Who were the previous women to serve as Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Assembly?
Three women preceded Osman in the role: CPI leader K.O. Aisha Bai in the first Kerala Legislative Assembly, Congress leader A. Nafeesath Beevi in 1960, and CPI leader Bhargavi Thankapan in 1987. Osman is the first woman to hold the post since Thankapan, a gap of nearly four decades.
What is Shanimol Osman's political background?
Osman has contested six elections over her career, including the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Alappuzha. She first won a legislative seat in the 2019 Alappuzha Assembly by-election, lost in 2021, and returned to the Assembly with a victory from Aroor in the 2026 polls.
What is the current composition of the Kerala Assembly?
The 140-member Kerala Assembly is currently dominated by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) with 102 seats. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) holds 25 seats, and the BJP has three MLAs.
