Kerala government formation: G Sudhakaran to be appointed Pro-tem Speaker

Former minister G Sudhakaran, who broke away from the CPM and contested with UDF backing in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, has been appointed Pro-tem Speaker of the new Assembly in a politically significant move.

Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced the decision on Monday after the first Cabinet meeting.

The government has also recommended to Governor Rajendra Arlekar that a special session of the Assembly be convened for the swearing-in of MLAs and the election of the Speaker.

“May 21 has been recommended for the swearing-in of MLAs and May 22 for the election of the Speaker. Subject to approval, the Governor’s policy address will be held on May 29,” Satheesan said.

“The decision has been taken to appoint former minister and Ambalapuzha MLA G Sudhakaran, the senior-most member of the House, as Pro-tem Speaker. The next Cabinet meeting will be held on Wednesday,” he added.

Sudhakaran’s appointment comes despite him not finding a berth in the new Cabinet after his victory from Ambalapuzha, where he defeated the CPM-led LDF in a constituency long regarded as a Left stronghold. 

A Pro-tem Speaker is a temporary presiding officer appointed for a newly elected State Legislative Assembly until a permanent Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected. The post is created to manage the immediate affairs of the House.

Sudhakaran returned as independent backed by UDF

Sudhakaran won the Ambalapuzha seat as an independent candidate backed by the Congress-led UDF after parting ways with the CPM following a prolonged internal fallout.

He secured 74,324 votes in the constituency, defeating CPM-led LDF candidate H Salam, who polled 43,548 votes. BJP-led NDA candidate Arun Anirudhan received 7,256 votes.

Sudhakaran’s margin of victory stood above 27,600 votes.

In 2021, Salam had won the constituency by an 8 per cent margin after Sudhakaran was denied a CPM ticket.