THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A storm is brewing within the political corridors of Kerala as allegations intensify against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s strategic handling of senior party colleagues. Critics and political observers are increasingly pointing toward a pattern they call the “Speaker’s Trap”—a tactical move where powerful CPM leaders are “honored” with the Speaker’s chair, only to have their active political careers systematically dismantled afterward.
The latest casualty of this purported strategy is A.N. Shamseer, the firebrand leader from Kannur and the current Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. As the CPM released its candidate list for the 2026 Assembly elections, Shamseer’s name was notably absent, sparking a wave of “political betrayal” narratives.
The ‘Sickle’ Strike: A Pattern of Omission
The theory suggests that Pinarayi Vijayan uses the Speaker’s post to neutralize leaders who possess the charisma or regional influence to eventually challenge his authority. Once elevated to the non-partisan role of Speaker, these leaders are distanced from day-to-day party activities and public agitations, effectively “silencing” their political voice.
P. Sreeramakrishnan: The precedent was set with the Speaker of the first Pinarayi ministry. Despite being a prominent face, Sreeramakrishnan was denied a seat in the 2021 elections and has since remained on the sidelines of active mainstream politics.
A.N. Shamseer: Known as a fierce orator who could unsettle the opposition, Shamseer was moved to the Speaker's chair mid-term. His exclusion from the 2026 list is seen as the final blow in a calculated move to "clump" his rising political graph.The ‘M.B. Rajesh’ Exception
The case of M.B. Rajesh further fuels this theory. In the early days of the second Pinarayi government, Rajesh was appointed Speaker. Observers believe he was headed for the same fate as Sreeramakrishnan. However, a shift in the party hierarchy—necessitated by M.V. Govindan becoming the Party Secretary—opened a cabinet slot.
Rajesh was moved from the Speaker’s chair to a ministerial position. According to analysts, it is only this “prison break” from the Speaker’s office to the Cabinet that allowed Rajesh to secure a seat in the 2026 elections.
"Had M.B. Rajesh remained the Speaker, he likely would have shared the same fate as Shamseer and Sreeramakrishnan," says a veteran political commentator.
