Procedures for the formation of the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly got underway this morning with the swearing-in of CPI(M) leader S Sarma as the Pro tem Speaker.
Governor P Sathasivam administered the oath of office to Sarma at a brief function held at Raj Bhavan. Sarma is former minister and represents Vypeen constituency in Ernakulam district.
Sarma will, in turn, chair proceedings of the first session of the state assembly on June 2 when each of the other 139 elected members of the House take oath as MLAs.
He will also oversee the formal anointment of P Sreeramakrishan of the CPI(M) as the new Speaker of the new assembly the next day.
Sreeramakrishnan has been elected from the Ponnani constituency in Malappuram.