The 140 member Kerala assembly is one member less with the legislative secretariat announcing that KM Shaji, a Muslim League MLA from the Azhikode constituency was no more a member of the house.

Shaji was disqualified earlier this month by the Kerala High Court on a petition filed by his opponent in the 2016 MV Nikesh Kumar who argued that Shaji had appealed on communal lines during the poll campaign. The High Court had stayed its own order till November 23 to enable the member to make an appeal. He had moved the apex court against the high court order and the former had orally said he could continue to attend the assembly as a member of the house and take part in the proceedings. But the assembly speaker contended that such oral assurances were not enough and he would have to submit a written order from the apex court. With the speaker Sivaramakrishnan making it clear that he would accept nothing less than a written order, Shaji will not be attend the proceedings of the assembly which reconvenes on Tuesday.

—India Legal Bureau