BJP Enters Kerala Speaker Race For First Time, Fields MLA BB Gopakumar

Last Updated:May 21, 2026, 12:31 IST

BJP to contest Kerala Assembly Speaker election for first time, fields BB Gopakumar, Congress led UDF backs Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

The BJP on Thursday announced that it will contest the Kerala Assembly Speaker election for the first time, days after the party opened its account with three seats in the state Assembly.

State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said newly elected Chathannoor MLA BB Gopakumar will be the party’s candidate for the Speaker’s post. The election is scheduled to be held on Friday.

The BJP secured three seats in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, marking a major electoral breakthrough for the party in the state.

Addressing reporters, Chandrasekhar described the move as a landmark moment for the BJP in Kerala politics.

“For the first time in the history of Kerala politics, there will be a BJP candidate in the election to the post. Gopakumar will be the BJP candidate. His name will be proposed by myself and Muraleedharan," he said.

The BJP secured three Assembly seats in Kerala for the first time in the recently concluded elections. The party’s MLAs in the House are BB Gopakumar, V Muraleedharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF has fielded senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan for the Speaker’s election. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is yet to announce its candidate.

Before taking an oath as MLAs, the BJP legislators-elect paid floral tributes at the Palayam Martyrs’ Memorial in Thiruvananthapuram.

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