Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM State secretariate has appointed incumbent Speaker M.B.Rajesh into the Kerala cabinet to replace MV Govindan. The decision was taken during the CPM State Secretariat held in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
Thalassery MLA AN Shamseer will be appointed as the new speaker.
Rajesh's appointment comes after Govindan master took charge as the CPM State Secretary after Kodiyeri Balakrishnan resigned from the post due to health issues, and a vacancy in the cabinet was created.
The minor cabinet reshuffle happened as minister Govindan handed over his letter of resignation to the governor on Friday evening after being appointed as the CPM State secretary.
The ceremony for his swearing-in will take place on Tuesday at 11 am. According to party sources, MB Rajesh will be given the Excise and Local Self Government portfolios handled by Govindan.
MB Rajesh (51) defeated UDF candidate PC Vishnunadh by 96 votes to win the assembly elections from the Thrithala constituency in the 2021 elections.
In 2016, after defeating UDF candidate AP Abdullakutty in the Thalassery constituency, AN Shamseer won his maiden election to the Legislative Assembly. In 2021, he became MLA for the second time after defeating MP Aravindakshan.