Oath ceremony in Kerala Assembly features interesting moments as TK Govindan and V Kunhikrishnan take oath

Taliparamba MLA TK Govindan greets Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan as he takes to the floor to take oath in the State Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Some of the most watched moments of Thursday’s MLA swearing-in ceremony in the Kerala Assembly involved interactions between TK Govindan, V Kunhikrishnan and G Sudhakaran, former Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) leaders who fought and won as former United Democratic Front (UDF) and CPI(M) backed Independents in CPI(M) Independents. Vijayan, who now leads the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the House as Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Sudhakaran, who won from Ambalappuzha after refusing to renew his party membership this year due to differences with the leadership, was also the Pro Tem Speaker who oversaw the day’s proceedings.

Mr. Govindan, who quit the party due to internal differences, surprised everyone when he first approached Mr. Vijayan, the former chief minister, before taking oath. Mr. Vijayan half rose to shake Mr. Govindan’s hand. Mr Govindan scored a decisive victory over PK Shyamala, wife of CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, in the CPI(M) stronghold of Taliparamba.

Payyannur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan walks past Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in the State Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

A quick greeting

After taking the oath, Mr. Kunhikrishnan approached Mr. Vijayan for a quick greeting before meeting Mr. Sudhakaran on the dais. In January this year, the CPI(M) expelled Mr. Kunhikrishnan, a former Kannur district committee member, from the primary membership of the party for publicly raising allegations regarding the collection of the Martyrs’ Fund. Mr. Kunhikrishnan defeated the CPI(M) candidate to wrest Payyannur, another CPI(M) stronghold.

Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) MLA KK Rema, wife of slain RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan, took the oath and went straight to the dais to greet Mr. Sudhakaran.

Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan greets Pro Tem Speaker G. Sudhakaran after he was sworn in at the State Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Mr. Vijayan was the 133rd to be sworn in (including Mr. Sudhakaran, who was sworn in on Wednesday). Mr. Sudhakaran and Mr. Vijayan shook hands on the podium. Mr. Vijayan also patted Mr. Sudhakaran on the shoulder before leaving to greet Chief Minister VD Satheesan and ministers in the finance ministries.

Most members took the oath in the name of god – seven opted for “in the name of the creator”. Others, mostly LDF members, opted for a solemn declaration. The House saw members take oath in Malayalam, English, Kannada and Tamil. Congress Vice President Sajeendran wore a Nehru cap. Chandy Oommen, who is representing Puthuppally for the second time, cycled to the Assembly complex for the ceremony on Thursday. Three BJP MLAs – V. Muraleedharan, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and BB Gopakumar – arrived in procession for the ceremony.

Published – 21 May 2026 19:53 IST