Image Courtesy:thehindu.com
KK Shailaja, or as she is popularly known in Kerala ‘Shailaja Teacher’, has edited her Twitter bio to read “Member of Central Committee, CPI (M)”. She is no longer the Health Minister of Kerala, even though she has been hailed across the globe as one of the most efficient ones, for setting an example on how to lead during a health emergency
She has now been dropped from Pinarayi Vijayan’s 21-member Cabinet which is expected to be sworn in on May 20. According to a report in The Newsminute, Shailaja will now be party Whip, even though the Left Democratic Front had earlier announced that she will be among the 12 CPI (M) MLAs who would be sworn in as ministers.
This move has shocked and angered the thousands of admiriers, across party lines, who have hailed KK Shailaja’s policy decisions as Kerala’s Health Minister. According to news reports, the second Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet has not repeated any ministers from the outgoing team. However, there is one prominent exception, Pinarayi Vijayan himself is slated to continue as Chief Minister.
In fact, even though it seemed unlikely, there was a section of KK Shailaja’s supporters, including some in the media, who hoped to see her as the next Chief Minister. However, not many expected that she of all the people would be dropped from the next Cabinet even if the aim was to bring in new faces.
The TNM reported that LDF Chairman Vijayaraghavan had said that “ministerial berths will be allotted to each ally in the front led by the CPI(M) and of the 21 ministers, 12 will be from the CPI (M) and four will be from the Communist Party of India (CPI).” He had mentioned that the CPI (M) would most likely pick new faces to be ministers. According to TNM, the final decision was made by the politburo of the party: Pinarayi Vijayan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, MA Baby and K Ramachandran Pillai.
The CPI(M) issued a statement on Tuesday with the names of those picked, reported TNM: MV Govindan, K Radhakrishnan, Saji Cherian, KN Balagopal, P Rajeev, VN Vasavan, V Sivankutty, Muhammed Riyas, Dr R Bindhu, Veena George and Abdul Rahman. What has also raised eyebrows is the fact that Pinarayi’s son-in-law Muhammed Riyas, who is the national president of the Democratic Youth Federation, is among the new faces, stated the TNM report. The other ‘connected’ name is Dr R Bindhu, wife of CPI (M) state secretary and LDF convener Vijayaraghavan.
According to NDTV, CPi (M 0politburo member MA Baby said, “There are many other first-time ministers, senior party leaders who performed very well. None have been included in the new government. It’s a uniform principle being applied to all. Many new faces will have the opportunity to perform as well as their predecessors. Remember, the last Pinarayi Vijayan government had all new ministers, except Thomas Isaac and G Sudhakaran.”
The LDF has set a record by winning a second straight term in Kerala’s elections, and it was being closely watched who will Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan include from his winning team, into his new cabinet. Turns out, he is the only one who will continue. According to an NDTV report, this too is being seen by party members as a brave move. AN Shamsheer, a CPM MLA, told NDTV that it was a “party decision. Only our party has the courage to do so. Many top performers were also not allowed to contest elections. We want new faces.”
However, social media is agog with reactions, mostly wondering why KK shailaja was dropped, others sorry to see her go.
#KeralaCabinet#PinarayiCabinet
CPIM has excluded all from previous cabinet to bring in all new blood. It’s change even at the cost of experience continuity. Then why the previous captain alone continues as against a general policy? @CPIM has turned a personal party. Wrong?— E M Abdul Rahiman (@EMAbdulRahiman1) May 18, 2021
Sorry to see @shailajateacher leave the Kerala cabinet. Aside from her reputed competence & efficiency, I always found her helpful, responsive & accessible as Health Minister, esp during the #Covid crisis. She will be missed.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 18, 2021
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