Indications are that Veena George's family is opposed to Health Minister contesting again

PATHANAMTHITTA: The CPM district committee has decided that Minister Veena George should contest again in Aranmula, but it is hinted that her family is against the decision. Veena's personal stance needs to be known.

The minister, who was on rest after sustaining a neck injury following the KSU protest, returned to the public stage yesterday. At the venue where the Pathanamthitta Fest was inaugurated, media workers approached Veena George to ask if she would contest the elections, but the minister did not respond.

It is reported that the minister's husband Dr. George Joseph approached the CPM state leaders with a request not to give Veena a seat again. It is learned that the matter has been left for discussion by the district committee. The district secretariat meeting held the other day decided that Veena George should contest again in Aranmula and KU Jenish Kumar in Konni. The party's stance is that it will only be necessary to nominate a new candidate if Veena announces that she will not contest due to opposition from her family members.

Veena, a media worker, was unexpectedly nominated as a candidate in Aranmula in 2016. Her husband George Joseph was the secretary of the Orthodox Church at that time. Veena won as the church votes went largely to the LDF. She contested the 2019 parliamentary elections from Pathanamthitta constituency but did not win. She became the Health Minister in 2021 after winning for the second time from Aranmula.