Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, was elected as the Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday. The 76-year-old veteran secured 101 votes, significantly outpacing his opponents AC Moideen from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and BB Gopakumar from the Bharatiya Janata Party, who received 35 and 3 votes, respectively. Radhakrishnan's election was widely anticipated due to the Congress-led United Democratic Front's substantial majority of 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly. Following his election, he was escorted to the Speaker's dais by Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, reflecting the tradition of the Assembly. Chief Minister Satheesan commended Radhakrishnan for his political contributions over the past 35 years, highlighting his commitment to his constituency. Vijayan expressed hope that Radhakrishnan would ensure fair representation for the opposition in Assembly discussions. Radhakrishnan, who has previously served as a minister, has been a significant figure in Kerala politics, representing the Kottayam constituency since the last delimitation.