The CPI(M) will have 12 members, including Vijayan, in the 21-member Cabinet. The CPI and Kerala Congress (M) have also named new faces-- four and one, respectively, to represent their parties in the Cabinet.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday left everyone surprised when he unveiled his new team, dropping all sitting party ministers, including acclaimed Health Minister KK Shailaja.
Journalist-turned-two-time-legislator Veena George is set to replace Shailaja as Kerala`s Health Minister. This may be recalled that Shailaja was described as a "rockstar health minister" by a section of international media last year for her skilled handling of the first wave of COVID-19 in Kerala.
A mother of two, George is a member of the CPI(M) Pathanamthitta area committee.
George (45) started her political career as an activist of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M).
List of Kerala ministers and their portfolios:
Pinarayi Vijayan - Public administration, home, vigilance, IT, planning, and Metro
KN Balagopal - Finance
Veena George - Health
V Sivankutty - Education
P Rajeev – Industries
K Radhakrishnan - Devaswom, SC/ST
R Bindhu – Higher Education
Antony Raju - Transport
MV Govindan - Local self-government
PA Mohammed Riyaz - PWD, Tourism
VN Vasavan – Excise, Labour
K Krishnankutty - Electricity
Ahammad Devarkovil – Port
Saji Cheriyan - Fisheries, culture
V Abdurahiman - Minority affairs and NRI
J Chinchu Rani - Animal Husbandry, Dairy
AK Saseendran - Forest
The Speaker`s post has gone to MP Rajesh, while senior CPI legislator Chitayem Gopakumar will be the new Deputy Speaker.
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