THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A jovial mood prevailed in the Assembly on its opening day on Thursday with members greeting each other cutting across party lines and first-time MLAs taking the advice from the seniors as they were sworn in by protem Speaker S. Sarma. While 76 MLAs made solemn affirmation, 62 others, including two from the CPM, took the oath in the name of God.
Independent MLA P.C. George made a difference by taking oath in the name of God and making solemn affirmation. Almost all members reached the House well in advance before 9 a.m. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan greeted the leaders of both fronts, including V. S. Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. First time MLA CMP’s N. Vijayan Pillai reached the House by around 9.15 a.m.
The seats were assigned to each member with the Chief Minister, senior ministers, Opposition leader, leaders of all political parties and two former chief ministers being given the front rows and the others accommodated on the basis of the alphabetical order. The seating arrangements may change after nomination of parliamentary party leaders and considering seniority, legislature secretariat sources said.
Abdul Hameed Master of IUML, who was elected from Vallikunnu, was the first to take the oath and M. Vincent of the Congress, who won from Kovalam, was the last as per the alphabetical order. Among the senior leaders, V.S. Achuthanandan was the first, whereas the chief minister came third from last. Both of them made solemn affirmation. Mr Oommen Chandy (76th), and Mr Ramesh Chennithala (96th) took oath in the name of God.
Aisha Potty of CPM from Kottarakara, who was caught in an embarrassment for taking oath in the name of God during her first election to the House in 2006, took made solemn affirmation this time. However, journalist-turned politician, Veena George, CPM candidate from Aranmula, CPM's Antony John from Kothamanagalam and CPI's V. Sasi from Chirayankeezhu were among those who took the oath in God's name from the Left camp, apart from many from others in the LDF coalition parties.
While most of the UDF members took the oath in the name of God, Shafi Paramabil of Congress from Palakkad made solemn affirmation. Concerns were expressed that P.C. George's unusual style of oath-taking may amount to violation of rules, legislature secretariat officials said that they would look into the matter if someone challenged it. "As per norms, the oath has to be taken in the name of God or by solemn affirmation. But we need to find out if using both the phrases amounted to violation," said an official.
While Hibi Eden and K. Muraleedharan of Congress took the oath in English, P.B. Abdul Razak of IUML from Manjeswaram used Kannada and S. Rajendran of CPM from Devikulam, Tamil. All others used Malayalam. CPM's C.K. Saseendran continued his practice of remaining barefooted in the House. CPM's M. Rajagopalan from Thrikkaripur also came to the House in his usual style of wearing a hat.
