In a historic move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidacy for the Kerala Assembly Speaker election for the first time, nominating newly elected Chathannoor MLA BB Gopakumar. This announcement comes shortly after the BJP secured three seats in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, marking a significant breakthrough in the state's political landscape. State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar described this nomination as a landmark moment for the party, stating, "For the first time in the history of Kerala politics, there will be a BJP candidate in the election to the post." The Speaker election is set to take place on Friday. Alongside Gopakumar, the BJP's representation in the Assembly includes V Muraleedharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar. In response, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has nominated senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan for the Speaker's position, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has yet to announce its candidate. Prior to taking their oaths, the BJP legislators-elect honored the state's martyrs by paying floral tributes at the Palayam Martyrs’ Memorial in Thiruvananthapuram.