G. Sudhakaran sworn in as Kerala Pro-tem Speaker after CPI(M) rebellion
Synopsis
A man expelled by the CPI(M) for defying its line will preside over the oath-taking of its own MLAs on Thursday. G. Sudhakaran's elevation as Kerala's Pro-tem Speaker is the sharpest symbol yet of the Left's collapse — from dominance to 35 seats — and a personal vindication that the party's leadership could not have scripted worse for itself.
Key Takeaways
Sudhakaran , former CPI(M) leader, was sworn in as a legislator of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly on 20 May by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar .
The state cabinet nominated him Pro-tem Speaker on Monday; he will administer oaths to 139 MLAs when the Assembly convenes on Thursday .
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is set to be elected full Speaker on Friday .
The UDF holds 102 seats ; the LDF has been reduced to 35 seats ; the BJP holds 3 seats .
Sudhakaran contested from Ambalapuzha as an Independent after being expelled by the CPI(M) for defying party leadership.
Veteran legislator G. Sudhakaran, a former strongman of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was on Wednesday, 20 May sworn in as a member of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. The state cabinet had nominated him as Pro-tem Speaker on Monday, in a politically charged move that encapsulates Kerala's sweeping change of guard following the Left's emphatic defeat at the polls.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his cabinet colleagues were present at the swearing-in ceremony.
From CPI(M) Stronghold to Independent Legislator
The 75-year-old two-time former minister had long been one of the most influential faces of the CPI(M) in south Kerala. His decision to contest from his traditional Ambalapuzha constituency as an Independent — openly defying the party leadership — triggered his expulsion from the CPI(M).
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) subsequently threw its full weight behind him, transforming the Ambalapuzha contest into a prestige battle. His eventual victory was widely read in political circles as both a personal comeback and a symbolic indictment of how the CPI(M) leadership handled its senior figures.
Role and Tenure as Pro-tem Speaker
As Pro-tem Speaker, Sudhakaran will administer the oath of office to the remaining 139 newly elected MLAs when the Assembly convenes on Thursday. His tenure in the chair is, however, brief — it ends with the election of the new Speaker on Friday.
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is set to be elected as the full Speaker, with the ruling front's numbers making the outcome a formality. The UDF commands 102 seats in the Assembly, against a sharply reduced Left Democratic Front (LDF) tally of 35 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opened its account with three seats.
The Political Irony for CPI(M)
Beyond procedural formalities, all eyes will be on the behaviour of CPI(M) legislators inside the House when Sudhakaran occupies the Speaker's chair — the same party that expelled him for contesting against its official line. The optics are unmistakable: a man the party cast out will now preside over the oath-taking of its own MLAs.
For many observers, Thursday's Assembly session promises more than a routine swearing-in ceremony. It will serve as the first vivid reminder of Kerala's sharply altered political landscape — a legislature where the Left, once dominant, now sits with fewer than a third of the seats it once commanded.
What Comes Next
With the new Assembly set to elect its Speaker on Friday, attention will quickly shift to the UDF government's legislative agenda. The composition of key committees and the tone set in the opening sessions will signal how the Satheesan administration intends to use its commanding majority. The conduct of the reduced LDF bench — and particularly how it navigates the Sudhakaran moment — will be closely watched as an early indicator of the opposition's posture.
Point of View
A visual the Left's detractors will replay for years. More broadly, the LDF's collapse to 35 seats raises a structural question: whether the party's centralised command culture, which alienated a figure of Sudhakaran's stature, is an isolated failure or a symptom of deeper organisational decay. The UDF's 102-seat majority is commanding enough to govern without drama, but the real test will be whether it uses the mandate for policy ambition or settles into the transactional politics that has historically characterised Kerala's alternating governments.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is G. Sudhakaran and why was he expelled from CPI(M)?
G. Sudhakaran is a 75-year-old veteran Kerala politician and two-time former minister who was once among the most influential CPI(M) leaders in south Kerala. He was expelled from the party after he chose to contest the Assembly election from Ambalapuzha as an Independent, openly defying the party's official line.
What is the role of the Pro-tem Speaker in Kerala Assembly?
The Pro-tem Speaker presides over the first sitting of a newly constituted Assembly and administers the oath of office to newly elected MLAs. Sudhakaran will swear in the remaining 139 MLAs on Thursday, after which his tenure ends with the election of the full Speaker on Friday.
Who is likely to be elected as the new Kerala Assembly Speaker?
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is set to be elected Speaker on Friday. The UDF's 102-seat majority makes the outcome a near-certainty.
What is the current seat tally in the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly?
The Congress-led UDF holds 102 seats, the Left Democratic Front has been reduced to 35 seats, and the BJP holds 3 seats in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Why is Sudhakaran's appointment as Pro-tem Speaker politically significant?
Sudhakaran was expelled by the CPI(M) for contesting against its official candidate, yet he will now preside over the swearing-in of CPI(M) MLAs as Pro-tem Speaker. His appointment, backed by the ruling UDF, is widely seen as a pointed political statement about the Left's defeat and its handling of senior leaders.
