Kerala's literary critic turns assembly reporter

Sukumar Azhikode, veteran literary critic and orator, surprised many including legislators as he turned up in the press box of the Kerala assembly Tuesday.

As Azhikode, wearing the badge of Kerala Kaumadi, a Malayalam newspaper, took his seat in the press box in the morning, ministers and legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties broke the assembly norms and chatted with him from the assembly floor.

Congress legislator Aryadan Mohammed had a word of appreciation for Azhikode, but another Congress legislator K. Babu objected to his presence and fellow legislators breaking the norms.

Speaker K. Radhakrishnan clarified: "He is a journalist sitting in the press box."

Azhikode told IANS that he was there to write a column on the assembly proceedings.