The sidelining of KK Shailaja, the former Health Minister, in the newly formed cabinet in Kerala has caused a stir in Kerala’s political arena. What has caused disbelief amongst the Communist party supporters is the Chief Minister’s son-in-law getting a berth. The decision of the Communist Party to have all the other ministers in the cabinet, except Pinarayi Vijayan, as new faces has come as a surprise to everyone.
The new government in Kerala comprises a 21-member cabinet. Many new ministers have been elected in the new government headed by Chief Minister Binarayi Vijayan. Especially MV Govindan, K. Radhakrishnan, KN Balagopal, P. Rajeev, VN Vasan, Saji Serian, V. Sivankutty, Mohammad Riyaz, Dr R. Bindu, Veena George, V. Abdul Rahman. These new ministers are about to assume office on the 20th. The four parties that have only one MLA from each of the parties in the Left Alliance are to be given 30 months each in the cabinet.
Mohammad Riyaz is the son-in-law of Pinarayi who contested and won from the Beyopre constituency. He has been was given a cabinet berth by father-in-law and CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
Mohammed Riyaz, who is the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) chief, is known for his controversial past and has been accused of orchestrating violence in Kerala.
Riyaz was sent to judicial custody in March this year for orchestrating violence near the Air India office in Kozhikode to protest against the air tariff hike and reduction in the flight services by the national carrier.
Health Minister KK Sailaja, who was in the last cabinet, does not feature in the present cabinet. MP Rajesh has been elected Speaker. TP Ramakrishnan has been elected as the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly.
AN Shamshir, senior leader of the Marxist Communist Party, said, “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will assume office for the second time on the 20th. He was the only one who was already in the cabinet. The other 11 are new to the cabinet. The cabinet is made up of a mix of young and old. The decision not to give Sailaja a ministerial post was taken on behalf of the party.”
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