Will act in an impartial manner: Speaker

Thiruvananthapuram: P. Sreeramakrishnan of the CPI-M, MLA from Ponnani constituency who was elected Speaker of the state Assembly on Friday, said that he would act in an impartial manner.

"The rights of the opposition will be ensured and at the same time the business of the government will have to go forward without any hitch," he said after thanking all the members of the house.

He got 92 votes as against 46 received by the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate V.P. Sajeendran.

Sreeramakrishnan, 48, has become the Assembly Speaker having worked his way up through student politics.

He became in 2007 the president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).

He later joined the Communist Part of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and won his first assembly election in 2011 from Ponanni constituency in Malappuram district. He retained the seat in 2016 polls.

Known for his pleasing manners, Sreeramakrishnan is also a well studied legislator besides a good orator.

As per the convention, the new speaker was escorted to the dais by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala after the election.

Vijayan said: "Your pleasing manners and overall conduct will certainly be a boon to the house and this election should also be noted that you are chosen at an early age."

Chennithala said: "You have become the 22nd speaker of this august house and your office is for both the treasury and opposition benches and is independent of the government and it's a high office which you have got.”