Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Assembly Speaker M B Rajesh was sworn in on Tuesday as a minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath at a function held in Raj Bhavan.
Rajesh is likely to hold the portfolio of Local Self Government replacing M V Govindan, who has been selected as the CPI(M) State Secretary.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader V D Satheesan, Ministers, MLAs, and party leaders.
Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer will replace Rajesh as the Speaker. Govindan was given the new assignment after senior CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stepped down as the party State Secretary due to ill health.