"Governor not giving assent to bills, not good in a healthy democracy": Kerala Assembly Speaker ahead of 14th session commencement

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], September 14 (ANI): Ahead of the commencement of the 14th session of the Kerala Assembly, Speaker AN Shamseer targeted the Governor for not giving assent to the bills brought by the state government, saying that such practices are not good in a "healthy democracy."
The 14th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly will begin on September 15 and will continue till October 10.
Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer said that this session would be specifically for law-making.
Speaking to ANI, Shamseer said, "The 14th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly will begin on September 15, 2025, and will continue till October 10. The session will be held in three phases--September 15 to 19, September 29 to 30, and October 6 to 10--covering a total of 12 working days. This session is exclusively for lawmaking, with two days set aside specifically for private member bills."
He stated that the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly was constituted in 2021, and four years have passed; 137 bills have been passed.
"Kerala is conducting Assembly sessions 50 days per annum, so this is a model for other states. We are making bills for the goodwill of people. Unfortunately, the governor is not giving assent to bills. This is not good in a healthy democracy," he added.
Earlier, in a press conference on the commencement of the 14th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly, he said that the Assembly will take up several important legislations during this session.
"The Assembly will take up several important legislations during this session, including the Kerala General Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Kerala Societies Registration Bill, 2025; the Kerala Guruvayur Devaswom (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Kerala Coir Workers' Welfare Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2025. In addition, the Kerala Public Records Bill, 2023--which was referred to the Select Committee after being introduced on July 11, 2024--will also be considered in this session. The House will also replace the Kerala Public Service Commission (Additional Functions in respect of Services under Universities) Amendment Ordinance, 2025, with a Bill," he said.
"The detailed schedule regarding the consideration of these Bills and other government business will be finalised in the Business Advisory Committee meeting to be held on September 15, 2025. On October 6, the House will discuss and vote on the demands for grants for the 2025-26 financial year, followed by the Appropriation Bill on October 7. The session will conclude on October 10," Shamseer said.
He further said that the preparations have already begun for the 4th edition of the Kerala Legislative International Book Festival (KLIBF), to be held under the auspices of the Legislative Assembly from January 7 to 13, 2026. "The festival, successfully organised over the past three years, will once again be a major cultural event," the Speaker added.
Notably, the Southern state will go to the polls in 2026. (ANI)