After leading the CPM-led Left Democratic Front to a landmark second consecutive term in the April-May election, Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in as Chief Minister of Kerala for the second time on Thursday afternoon.
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan swore Mr. Vijayan in during a brief ceremony that followed procedures in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic; the ceremony was only permitted after the Kerala High Court granted permission on Wednesday, citing related events in Tamil Nadu and Bengal.
“Took the oaths of office and confidentiality, as the Chief Minister of Kerala,” Mr Vijayan tweeted shortly after being sworn in. Let us work together to realise a people’s alternative,and build a Nava Keralam!”
Pinarayi Vijayan will lead a brand-new 20-member cabinet, with 12 members from the CPM and four from the CPI, and no members from the previous administration besides himself.
Dr. R Bindu, Chinchu Rani, and Veena George make up the current squad, which is one more than the previous one and a first for any Kerala administration.
Seventy-five percent of the incoming cabinet are first-time ministers, and ten are new MLAs.
Former Health Minister KK Shailaja, who was widely admired for her handling of the Covid crisis, was dropped from the sweeping reforms, which Mr. Vijayan characterized as a party decision.
Mr. Vijayan’s most popular minister, KK Shailaja, was elected from Mattannur in Kannur with a record margin of 67,013 votes, making her one of Mr. Vijayan’s most popular ministers.
She explained her omission when asked about it “It’s a policy choice. Last time, I was just a novice. This time, none of those from the previous term are present.”
“It was decided by the party not to have anybody serve as a minister for two years in a row. KK Shailaja’s exclusion from the current cabinet was based on this policy “Mr. Vijayan said.
Other senior leaders from the previous administration, such as Thomas Isaac (Finance) and MM Mani (Power), have also been withdrawn.
In the April-May election, the LDF defied the odds to secure a landmark second consecutive term – Kerala usually alternates between Left and Congress-led governments. In this election, the coalition won 99 of 140 votes, with the Congress taking 41 and the BJP failing to register a vote.
