Shailaja Teacher won by over 60,000 votes

Shailaja Teacher won by over 60,000 votes

Shailaja Teacher won by over 60,000 votes

On a day when she would make history, with the largest margin of victory in a Kerala assembly election, K. Shailaja Teacher appealed to the public to maintain utmost vigil with COVID protocols as votes were counted.

With an over 60,000 vote-margin between her and her opponent Illikkal Augusthy of the Revolutionary Socialist Party and Biju Elakkuzhi of the BJP, Teacher received a resounding mandate. For comparison, the highest victory margin in the 2016 elections was 45,587 votes, for Kerala Congress (M) leader P.J. Joseph. The highest margin ever was only slightly higher, held by M. Chandran of Alathur (47,000).

With the Left Democratic Front (LDF) leading in 99 seats, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijaya, set to return for a second term, led by over 40,000 votes in his constituency of Dharmadam, Kannur.

Affectionately known as the “Rockstar” health minister for her role in helping the state contain the Nipah virus and the initial wave of COVId-19 infections, Teacher gained international renown after she, along with other women leaders across the world, developed a leading and science-based approach to containing the novel coronavirus.

In September, the UK-based Prospect magazine selected Teacher as the `Top Thinker of the Year 2020', beating New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, for her role in flattening the curve of COVID-19 Kerala.

While the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in Kerala, the state managed to effectively contain the virus until October. A surge in cases since then, coinciding with the election season, saw Kerala have the most number of cases in India after Maharashtra. As India grapples with a second wave that appears deadlier and more infectious than previous waves, however, Kerala has managed to maintain the lowest death rate in the country, at 0.4 per cent.

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