In Kerala, known for its sacred pilgrimage sites, many people do not believe in God. A total of 42 MLAs refused to mention God’s name during the swearing-in ceremony in the Assembly. Most of them are left-wing legislators. However, the list also includes the names of several MLAs from Congress and other parties. MLAs are given some options before taking oath in the assembly. MLAs can take the oath in the language of their choice and choose whose name they take the oath. Two options are given: God’s name and earnest promise or Solomon’s confirmation. Notably, 42 MLAs in the 140-seat Kerala Assembly chose not to take the oath in the name of God and took the oath with a solemn promise.
The left has often denied the existence of religion. After the electoral defeat, there were some ideological changes in the Left camp in other states, but not in Kerala. 34 MLAs who won on CPIM and CPI tickets ignored the name of God while taking oath. Two RSP MLAs and two Revolutionary Marxist Party MLAs also took oath in the name of sincere commitment. Even two Congress MLAs did not take oath in the name of God.
The trend of not swearing in the name of God in the Kerala Assembly is not new, however. Always a large section of leftist legislators refrain from mentioning God’s name in the oath-taking ceremony. This year some new names have been added to that list. There are also several variations of the language used in the swearing-in ceremony. The ruling camp has expressed great satisfaction with all these developments.
