Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in today as the chief minister of Kerala for the second time - the first CM to get a second term in the state’s history. His team of 20 ministers took oath at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday afternoon.
The function, attended by 280 persons, was held under strict COVID-19 protocol. The opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) chose to stay away from the event, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The LDF cabinet consists mostly of fresh faces - 17 of them are first-time ministers and the average age of the cabinet is 59. The oldest is CM Pinarayi Vijayan who is 77 and youngest is Health Minister Veena George - 44.
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A Dalit to head the Dewaswom department that controls the temples in the state, a woman to head the health department in these troubled times, a woman JNU scholar to head the higher education department, a green activist to head agriculture - these are a few highlights of the new LDF government. Prominent portfolios like finance and industries will be held by former Rajya Sabha members who had earned a name for themselves nationally – K.N. Balagopal and P. Rajeev respectively.
Veena George is a two-time MLA from Aranmula constituency. The dropping of former health minister K.K. Shailaja, who was hailed for the brilliant handling of the health department during the Nipah and COVID-19 crisis, from the Cabinet, had created a controversy.
R. Bindu, who retired as a college principal, would be at the helm of the higher education department. She was the former Mayor of Thrissur Corporation.
P.A. Muhammad Riyas, former national president of DYFI, will head tourism department and public works department. He is also the son-in-law of CM Vijayan.
M.V. Govindan, who is a central committee member of the CPI(M), and also the seniormost after the CM, will be the minister of local self government development. He will also head the excise department. V Sivankutty, who captured the Nemom constituency - BJP’s lone seat in the past Assembly - will be in charge of the general education department.
Roshy Augustine, leader of the Kerala Congress (Mani) faction of Jose K. Mani, will head the water resources department. V. Abdurahman, who won from Tanur, will reportedly head the minorities affairs department. Antony Raju, who won from Thiruvananthapuram constituency, will head the transport department. Ahamed Devarkovil of the Indian National League, part of the LDF, who won from Kozhikode South, will be the minister of ports. K. Krishnankutty of Janata Dal (S), who won from Chittur in Palakkad, will be the minister of power. It is for the first time that CPI(M) has handed over the electricity department to a front partner.
