VD Satheesan Vs Pinarayi Vijayan: Ex-CM Picked As Leader Of Opposition In Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The CPI(M) has picked former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Kerala assembly.

The decision comes hours after Congress named former leader of opposition VD Satheesan as new chief minister of Kerala.

Notably, thie is the first time that Pinarayi will serve as Opposition leader. It was VS Achuthanandan as opposition leader when UDF won in 2011.

However, when the LDF made a comeback, Pinarayi was picked as the chief minister and remained in the position till 2026, securing the history second term during the 2021 assembly elections.

There were rumours that Pinaray will be chosen the new opposition leader in Kerala Assembly. There were reports that the outgoing finance minister K.N. Balagopal can be the LoP as an alternative if Pinarayi declines the role of Opposition leader.

CPI(M)’s senior leaders are reportedly of the view that Pinarayi himself should assume the role to take on the ruling UDF as the LDF is entering the opposition benches with its weakest-ever strength in the Kerala Assembly.