THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M.B. Rajesh, a first-time legislator and two-time member of the Lok Sabha, was sworn in on Tuesday as a minister in the second Pinarayi Vijayan government. Up until last week, he served as the speaker of the Kerala Assembly.

The resignation of State Minister for Excise and LSG, M.V. Govindan, from the government, was the cause of this reorganization. Govindan succeeded Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who resigned owing to illness, as the new CPI-M state secretary.

In front of Chief Minister Vijayan on Tuesday morning, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath to Rajesh.

Regarding the portfolio, it is unclear if Vijayan will give Rajesh both of the portfolios that Govindan managed. According to rumours, Rajesh will be awarded the Culture portfolio in exchange for the excise department going to State Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan.

Rajesh became actively involved in the CPI-youth M's branch after becoming interested in student politics. He was elected to two consecutive terms from the Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency. In the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, his hat-trick was thwarted.

However, he proved to be a giant killer in the 2021 Assembly elections when he defeated youthful Congress leader V.T. Balaram, who was aiming for a hat-trick of victories from the Thrithala Assembly constituency in the Palakkad district.

On September 12, the Assembly will start meeting at 10 am to elect the new Speaker. The meeting will be a continuation of the last meeting. Despite the fact that the legislative session ended on September 1, the Cabinet has not made a decision to adjourn it.

The election process would end in an hour if the opposition decided not to run a candidate against LDF nominee A N Shamseer. The election will be conducted using a secret ballot if it fields a candidate. The new Speaker will address the Assembly before the session is over.

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