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J.C.D. Prabhakar unanimously elected Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker; M. Ravisankar Deputy Speaker
J.C.D. Prabhakar of TVK was unanimously elected Speaker of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, with M. Ravisankar elected unanimously as Deputy Speaker on May 12, 2026. The process featured the Pro-tem Speaker declaring the election, followed by escorts to the Chair, a ceremonial greeting by leaders, and subsequent remarks and greetings from senior figures and members.
Why It Matters
The unanimous choice signals cross-party accord at the outset of the 17th Assembly and establishes the procedural leadership for upcoming legislative work.
Timeline
5 Events
Other legislators greet the Speaker and Deputy Speaker
May 12, 2026
Several MLAs from various parties offered greetings: S. Rajesh Kumar (Congress), S. Kamaraj (AMMK), R. Chellaswamy (CPI-M), Vanni Arasu (VCK), Syed Farooq Basha SSB (IUML), T. Ramachandran (CPI), Kadayanallur MLA T.M. Rajendran, Chidambaram MLA M. Thamimun Ansari, BJP MLA M. Bhojarajan, Pollachi MLA K. Nithyanandhan, Nagapattinam MLA M.H. Jawahirullah, PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani, DMDK MLA Premallatha Vijayakant also spoke, greeting Mr. Prabhakar and Mr. Ravisankar.
Greeted by Vijay, Udhayanidhi, and Palaniswami
May 12, 2026
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami spoke, greeting the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Speaker's speech on leadership and non-partisanship
May 12, 2026
In his speech after taking over as Chair, Prabhakar recalled his long association with former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, as well as the late leader G.K. Moopanar. He added that he had been waiting for an able leadership like theirs to follow, until he finally found it in TVK president Vijay. Describing Vijay as a 'living MGR', the Speaker said his election to the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly was due to the TVK leader and that his actions in the House would be non-partisan, quoting verses from the Quran, the Bible, and the Bhagavad Gita.
Speaker announces Deputy Speaker election
May 12, 2026
The Speaker then announced the unanimous election of M. Ravisankar as Deputy Speaker.
Pro-tem Speaker declares Prabhakar as Speaker; escort and greet
May 12, 2026
Pro-tem Speaker M.V. Karuppaiah declared J.C.D. Prabhakar unanimously elected as Speaker. Leader of the House K.A. Sengottaiyan and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin escorted the new Speaker to the Chair; all members including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay rose to greet him; Sengottaiyan and Udhayanidhi Stalin later posed for photographs with Prabhakar.