V J Thankappan appointed pro-tem Speaker in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (UNI) Former Minister V J Thankappan will be the pro-tem Speaker of the Kerala Assembly, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said today.

Briefing newspersons after the first cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said the new Speaker of the 12th Assembly would be elected on May 25.

The newly-elected MLAs would take oath on May 24.

He said the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Governor to convene the Assembly Session from June 16 to July seven during which the government would present the revised Budget.

He said the discussions were still being held on the portfolio allocation for the new ministers and it would be finalised later.

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