THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Journalist-turned-politician Veena George will replace KK Shailaja as Kerala’s health minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government's second term.

Shailaja, who earned international acclaim for her handling of the Nipah outbreak in 2018 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as Kerala's health minister in the outgoing cabinet was dropped and instead chosen as the ruling party’s whip in the Legislative Assembly. The decision to not retain her in the new state Cabinet has triggered widespread criticism.

The Chief Minister and new ministers will take oath on May 20. CPI (M)-led LDF had swept the April 6 polls, winning 99 of the 140 seats 99 of the 140 seats.

Former Speaker K. Radhakrishnan, who now becomes Devaswom minister, is from Scheduled Caste community. A minister in the 1996-2001 E.K.Nayanar cabinet, he was Speaker from 2006-11 when V.S. Achuthanandan was the Chief Minister. After 1981, it is the first time that a person from the Scheduled Castes is becoming a Devaswom minister.

The new Health Minister George, 45 began her political career as an activist of Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M).

A legislator from Aranmula, George, who was as journalist and news anchor in various Malayalam news channels before jumping to politics. She became MLA from Aranmula seat for the first time in 2016 and was re-elected from the same constituency in Pathanamthitta district with a margin of 19,003 votes in the April 6 assembly polls.

George is a rank holder of MSc (Physics) and BEd, according to a PTI report. Her husband Dr George Joseph, a higher secondary school teacher, has served as secretary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

A church official said Church head Baselios Marthoma Paulose II telephoned George to congratulate her on her achievement.

Besides George, two other women will also become ministers in the new government. While CPI(M) has nominated R Bindu, wife of CPI(M) acting secretary A Vijayaraghavan, CPI has selected its senior leader and Chadayamangalam MLA J Chinchu Rani to represent the party in the cabinet.

First-time MLA from Beypore seat and CM Vijayan's son-in-law PA Mohamed Riyas will be the minister for Public Works Department (PWD), reports said. Among others, KN Balagopal is the new Finance minister while P Rajeev gets industries portfolio. MV Govindan will be the new Local Self Government minister while V Sivankutty gets Education portfolio. Saji Cherian gets Fisheries, VN Vasavan Excise and R Bindu Higher Education in the new Cabinet.

Home and Vigilance will be handled by the Chief Minister himself. The electricity department, which has been held by the CPM for a long time, will be handed over to the Janata Dal-S. K Krishnankutty will be the new minister.

The Department of Transport, Forests and Water Resources will be handled by different parties on sharing basis. Water resources will be given to Roshi Augustine of the Kerala Congress-M, transport to Antony Raju of the Democratic Kerala Congress, AK Sasindran of NCP will be given Forest Dept and Ahmed Devarkovil, the INL representative, will handle port, archeology and museum departments. Last time the water resource was for the Janata Dal-AC. Transportation was for the NCP. The forest, which has been managed by the CPI since 2006, was handed over to the NCP after they ceded it. In the Left Ministries of 1987 and 1996, the Forest Department was for the Janata Dal.

According to the front agreement, after two and a half years, the transport should be handed over to KB Ganeshkumar of Kerala Congress-B and Port Department to Kadannapally Ramachandran of Congress(S).

Former Scheduled Caste Devaswom Ministers

1. Vellai Eecharan (Congress): 1971-77

2. KK Balakrishnan (Congress): 1977-78

3. Damodaran Kalachery (Congress): 1978- 79

4. MK Krishnan (CPM): 1980-81