Thiruvananthapuram, June 2 -- United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Shanimol Osman was elected Deputy Speaker of the Keralam Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, becoming only the fourth woman in the state's history to hold the constitutional post.

The election was held during the ongoing first session of the 16th Keralam Legislative Assembly. Osman defeated Left Democratic Front (LDF) nominee Muhammed Muhsin by a comfortable margin in the voting conducted in the Assembly House.

Announcing the result, Keralam Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said, "I am announcing the result of the election. Mohammed Muhsin (LDF) secured 34 votes, while Shanimol Usman (UDF) received 99 votes. Four members abstained from voting, including the Speaker. I...