The Hindu : Kerala News : A political correction for Therambil

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Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

A political correction for Therambil

By Girish Menon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 19. Therambil Ramakrishnan has every reason to feel happy at his election as the 18th Speaker of the Kerala Assembly as it represents a political correction of sorts from his point of view.

The 63-year-old Congress leader representing the Thrissur Assembly seat, became Speaker in 1995-96 following the ouster of K. Karunakaran as Chief Minister and the installation of A. K. Antony as his replacement. When Mr. Antony led the UDF back to power with a massive majority, Mr. Ramakrishnan was likely to be made Speaker considering the fact that the political equations that prevailed in 1995-96 remained unchanged. However, he lost out to Vakkom B. Purushothaman, who was chosen by the Congress high command to be Speaker.

Even though Mr. Ramakrishnan's first stint lasted barely 11 months, he earned the reputation of being impartial and for conducting the affairs of the House with considerable aplomb.

He had to face an aggressive Opposition which raked up the sensational Suryanelli case, besides taking a strong stand against the Government on the case relating to the murder attempt on E. P. Jayaraj, the then CPI (M) MLA, in which another MLA, K. Sudhakaran, of the Congress was an accused.

Mr. Ramakrishnan conducted the proceedings of the House with ease.

Harrowing time

It was during his tenure that the Government went through a harrowing time over the creamy layer issue, with the Chief Secretary being hauled up by the Supreme Court for contempt of court.

He was chosen Speaker in 1995-96 as part of the Congress factional re-arrangement that took place consequent to Mr. Antony's assumption as Chief Minister. Mr. Ramakrishnan had been a staunch Karunakaran loyalist ever since he joined the Congress. Earlier, he represented the pro-NSS

National Democratic Party in the Assembly.

But his election was not because of his factional affiliation. It was an acknowledgement of sorts for his strong position against Mr. Karunakaran's attempts to force a split in the party at the heights of factionalism six months ago.

The soft-spoken Ramakrishnan, despite his factional loyalties, never lost an opportunity to express openly his opinion on various issues. And he did so at a crucial time when the Congress factional feud appeared to be taking the party towards a split.

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