Shanimol Usman was elected Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on June 1, 2026.
The election marks a significant shift in the assembly's leadership and represents a rare milestone for women in the state's legislative history. Usman is only the fourth woman to hold the post since the assembly's inception [3].
Usman, a senior leader of the Congress party, won the seat in the Thiruvananthapuram-based legislature after securing a majority of votes. Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said Usman secured 99 votes [1]. Her opponent, the Left Democratic Front candidate Muhammed Muhassin, received 34 votes [2].
According to reports, Usman is the first woman from the Congress party to hold this position in 66 years [3]. This appointment follows a period of nearly four decades since a woman last occupied the role of Deputy Speaker in the state [3].
The vote took place within the Kerala Legislative Assembly chamber, where the leadership transition was formalized. The result confirms the current political alignment within the house, as the Congress candidate defeated the LDF challenger by a margin of 65 votes.
“Shanimol Usman secured 99 votes”
The election of Shanimol Usman signals a strategic move by the Congress party to elevate female leadership within the Kerala Legislative Assembly. By breaking a multi-decade gap for women in the Deputy Speaker's chair, the appointment addresses long-standing gender disparities in the state's top legislative roles and strengthens the party's visibility in the administration of the house.
