Kerala Deputy Speaker N Sakthan all set to become Speaker

Deputy Speaker N Sakthan is all set to be elevated to the post of Speaker to fill the vacancy caused by the death of present incumbent G Karthikeyan
A decision to this effect was taken by the Congress led UDF front here today.
"The Congress leadership has given clearance to the candidature of Sakthan and election will be held this week," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the UDF meeting.
UDF convenor P P Thankachan said the Front unanimously resolved to have a Congress candidate for the post of Speaker.
The election was necessitated following the death of Karthikeyan, who battled liver cancer and passed away at a hospital at Bengaluru on March 7.

This was the first time that the Speaker of the Kerala Assembly passed away when the House is in session.
In the 140-member assembly, UDF has a strength of 74 and CPI-M led LDF 65. One seat held by Karthikeyan is vacant.