Thiruvananthapuram: The world’s first democratically elected government celebrates its 60th anniversary on April 5.

On that day in 1957, Kerala’s first government led by E M Sankaran Namboodiripad assumed office. The state was created on November 1, 1956, and communists won the first election to the state legislative assembly.

It was also considered as the first Communist government to assume power through election in the world.

The state is now ruled by a coalition led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). It has planned several programs to celebrate the anniversary.

On April 5, Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan would inaugurate the celebration at a function in the Nishagandi Auditorium of the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.

Seminars on various subjects including center-state relation, decentralization and planning and coalition politics, photo exhibition, women parliament were some programs organized as part of the celebrations from April 21 to 26, state industries minister A.C. Moideen told reporters.

Veteran communist leader K.R. Gouri, one of the ministers in the first ministry would be honored at the function.

Kerala Governor P Sathasivam would closing the ceremonies on April 26.

(Source: Malayala Manorama)