Congress leader and Deputy Speaker N Sakthan Nadar has been elected new Speaker of the Kerala Assembly following the demise of predecessor G Karthikeyan.
As the candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front, he secured 74 votes, while the Opposition Left Democratic Front candidate Aisha Potty could manage only 66.
What stands out in the victory margin of eight is the accretion of a vote in favour of the Opposition front through the lone representative in the House of the Kerala Congress (B) faction.
Led by many-time minister R Balakrishna Pillai, this faction of the Kerala Congress had only last evening decided to switch over, protesting alleged acts of corruption and misrule by the ruling front.
Pillai is a founding-member of the United Democratic Front that was initiated back in the 80s, introducing the concept of coalition governments in the state.
But he stormed out of the front apparently disgusted in the manner in which he figured he was being sidelined by a coalition front of which he is a founding father.
Credentials proved
Meanwhile, newly elected Satkthan has proved his credentials in the way he has been conducting business in the House after late Karthikeyan had to keep himself away due to prolonged hospitalisation.
Sakthan represents the suburban Kattakkada Assembly constituency in Thiruvananthapuram. He is the first Deputy Speaker from the State Assembly to be elevated as Speaker.
It is also the first time that a member has gone on to be elected Speaker after having been made protem Speaker in the interregnum.
Sakthan has also been a minister for transport in the government led by Oommen Chandy in 2004.
* story edited for correction in the headline