Vakkom elected Speaker

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 6. Mr. Vakkom B. Purushothaman (Congress) was elected Speaker of the eleventh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

In a secret balloting by the members, the UDF candidate, Mr. Purushothaman, polled two votes less than the Front's numerical strength in the House, while the LDF candidate, Mr. T. K. Balan, gained one vote higher than the numerical strength of the LDF in the House. One vote was declared invalid.

Mr. Purushothaman got 95 votes when 97 UDF members voted. Mr. Balan polled 39 votes when the LDF members present in the House were just 38. The Pro tem Speaker, Mr. K. Narayana Kurup, who presided, did not vote. The Health Minister, Mr. P. Sankaran, and Mr. Johnny Nellore from the UDF side and Mr. A.C. Shanmughadas and Ms. Girija Surendran from the LDF side were absent. (The House has a total strength of 140).

Mr. Purshothaman was nominated to the Speaker's post by the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, and was seconded by the Industries Minister, Mr. P. K. Kunhalikutty. In another set of nomination, the Revenue Minister, Mr. K. M. Mani, proposed Mr. Purushothaman's name and the Agriculture Minister, Ms. K. R. Gouri, seconded. For the Opposition candidate, three sets of nominations were filed. These were proposed and seconded respectively by Ms. P. K. Sreemathi and Dr. K. C. Joseph, Dr. Thomas Isaac and Dr. A. Neelalohithadasan Nadar and Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Mr. K. P. Rajendran.

After the results were declared, the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, and the CPI(M) Legislature Party leader, Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan, accosted Mr. Purushothaman to the Speaker's chair.

Congratulating Mr. Purushothaman on his election, the Chief Minister said Mr. Purushothaman had considerable experience in conducting the proceedings of both the Assembly and Parliament. Though he was not the Lok Sabha Speaker, he had spent more time in the chair of the Lok Sabha than the Speaker himself, as one on the panel of chairmen. Mr. Achuthanandan and other party leaders also congratulated him and wished him well.

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Section  : Southern States
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