Thiruvananthapuram: The first session of  the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly began here on Monday, under strict COVID-19 protocols.

Soon after the proceedings began at 9 AM, the swearing-in of the new MLAs of the 140-member House commenced. Kunnamangalam MLA P T A Rahim, who was appointed as the pro-tem speaker, will call out the names in alphabetical order and the new legislators will take the oath of office.

Only the oath-taking will take place on the first day when the Assembly is convened. The seating arrangements have been arranged maintaining social distancing. The second consecutive CPI(M)-led LDF government under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in on May 20 at the Central Stadium here.

On his 76th birthday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote himself into assembly records when he took oath as a legislator in the floor of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday. This is the first time that a sitting Left government is getting a second term in office.

Vijayan arrived early and was seen exchanging pleasantries with his fellow treasury bench legislators.

Few MLAs to take oath later

As some legislators are undergoing quarantine they may not be able to attend the Assembly session on Monday. K Babu, A Vincent have informed about their absence. They will be sworn-in later.

Speaker election tomorrow

The election to the post of speaker will take place on Tuesday. The nominations can be filed till Monday afternoon.M B Rajesh from the ruling front will be the Left candidate. It is yet to be known if the opposition will field their candidate or not.

The Assembly will not be convened on May 26 and May 27. GovernorArif Mohammed Khan will address the Assembly with his usual policy address on May 28. The last policy address of the previous government was on January 21. As there is continuance of governance, it is not known if the same policy will continue or new announcements will be done.

On June 4, finance minister K N Balagopal will present the revised budget. Though the Assembly session was planned for 14 days till June 14, there is an element of uncertainty due to the covid situation.

75 MLAs are not new

Seventy five legislators of the 14th assembly were elected again to the new Assembly. The seniormost is Oommen Chandy and he is entering the Assembly continuously for the 12 th time.

Study class for new MLAs via online

The Assembly proceedings will be made familiar to the new legislators and as they cannot gather together, the Assembly secretariat is mulling to conduct online classes for them.