Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has appointed P Sathidevi as the new chairperson of the state women's commission. She is a member of the CPM state committee and the general secretary of the Democratic Women's Association. She was also elected as Lok Sabha MP from Vadakara in 2004. She will assume the office of the Kerala women's commission chairperson on October 1. 

The CPM had earlier agreed to appoint Sathidevi as the chairperson of the women's commission after former president MC Josephine was removed from the post over her insensitive remarks to a complainant. Josephine vacated the post when only 8 months was left for the expiry of her term of office.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Commission may continue until the expiry of their term.  Along with Sathidevi, the names PK Sreemathi, CS Sujatha and TN Seema were also considered initially for the post of  the Kerala Women's Commission chairperson.