Swearing-in ceremony in Kerala Assembly presents interesting moments as T.K. Govindan and V. Kunhikrishnan take oath

Key points

• Some of the most closely-watched moments at Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony of MLAs in the Kerala Assembly concerned the interactions between T.K.
• Govindan, V.
• Kunhikrishnan Sudhakaran, former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders who contested and won as United Democratic Front (UDF)-backed Independents in the CPI(M) strongholds, and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who now leads the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the House as the Leader of the Opposition.
• Sudhakaran, who had won from Ambalappuzha after refusing to renew his party membership earlier this year over differences with the leadership, was also the Pro Tem Speaker who supervised the day’s proceedings.
• Govindan, who had left the party owing to internal disagreements, surprised everyone when he strode up to Mr. Vijayan, the former Chief Minister, first before taking the oath.