The 12-day 14th session will be dedicated to law-making, and a number of Bills are expected to be taken up in the coming days
The 14th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly opened in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (September 15, 2025) with the House paying fulsome tributes to communist veteran and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Peermade MLA Vazhoor Soman and senior Congress leader and former Minister P.P. Thankachan who passed away this year.
Achuthanandan, who died on July 21 aged 101, was remembered as an inspiring and popular figure who, transcending mere party politics, effectively intervened in a wide range of issues affecting the public, including human rights, environment and women’s issues.
“His role in bringing topics such as environmental issues to the attention of mainstream politics is memorable,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Achuthanandan’s death marked the end of an important chapter in the socio-political history of Kerala, Mr. Vijayan said. Achuthanandan was an important link that connected many important episodes of Kerala history to the present day. His ideology and the efforts that he took for its fulfilment will inspire future generations, he said.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the biggest political transformation in Achuthanandan’s life was his acceptance by middle-class Kerala which once viewed him as old-fashioned. “His convictions and his stand on issues made him popular among a section that once disliked him,” Mr. Satheesan said.
Even when he was in power, Achuthanandan always displayed the mindset of the Opposition, the Opposition Leader said, recalling Achuthanandan’s strong stands on issues related to the environment, the marginalised sections of the society, land and the ‘lottery mafia.’
Speaker A.N. Shamseer described Achuthanandan as a symbol of truth and resilience. “In the appellation ‘VS,’ the common people saw the embodiment of the revolutionary and the fighter,” he said.
Vazhoor Soman, who represented Peermade in Idukki district in the current Assembly, was remembered for his contributions in highlighting the problems faced by the plantation workers in the State Legislative Assembly. His tireless efforts in this regard makes him a model for people’s representatives, Mr. Shamseer said. His sudden demise in August marked a loss for Kerala politics and the Left movement, he said.
The Chief Minister recalled Soman’s efforts in organising plantation workers and drawing them to the mainstream.
The House remembered P.P. Thankachan as a Congress veteran “who will be remembered for his leadership qualities.”
Thankachan, who passed away on September 11, left his imprint on Kerala politics through his long stints as convener of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and MLA representing Perumbavoor. He was also Agriculture Minister in the A.K. Antony Ministry.
“He also won praise for his impartial stand as Speaker,” Mr. Shamseer said. In his death, Kerala has lost a leader with invaluable experience, he added.
Bills to be taken up
The 12-day 14th session will be dedicated to law-making, and a number of Bills are expected to be taken up in the coming days.
The Supplementary Demands for Grants in the 2025-26 Budget will be discussed and voted upon on October 6. The Appropriation Bill with respect to the Supplementary Demands for Grants will be considered on October 7.
Published – September 15, 2025 02:09 pm IST
