THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI legislator V Sasi has been elected Deputy Speaker of the 14th Kerala Assembly. The LDF candidate, a two-time MLA from Chiranyinkeezhu, polled 90 votes against UDF's I C Balakrishnan, who secured 45 votes. Of the total 136 votes polled, one vote was invalid.
As in the case of Speaker election, independent MLA P C George made his vote invalid this time too. If he chose not to mark his preference in the ballot in the Speaker poll, this time George wanted to know why there is no NOTA in the Deputy Speaker election. The Poonjar MLA wrote in the ballot paper, "Why there's no NOTA". Four MLAs were absent. BJP's lone legislator O Rajagopal, whose vote in favour of the LDF candidate had kicked up a row during the Speaker election, was absent this time. Of the 136 votes polled, the Left candidate secured 90 votes, including that of Anglo Indian nominee John Fernandez.
From the LDF side, Chittoor MLA K Krishnankutty was absent, while UDF MLAs Anoop Jacob and C Mammootty, who have gone abroad for personal visits, were also not present. Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan did not cast his vote.The Deputy Speaker election was keenly watched as there was cross-voting from the UDF side to the LDF during the Speaker election.