KK Shailaja dropped from cabinet: KK Shailaja, who received international recognition for her work as the health minister of Kerala during the COVID-19, has been dropped from the state cabinet. Many objected to this move made by the Left-led government of Kerala.
The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan formed a new cabinet after winning the state elections. The leader of CPI (M), AN Shamseer said, "Only the CM will be there (from the old Kerala cabinet), rest 11 ministers are new." He called the new cabinet, a "blend of youngsters and the old."
"It's our party's collective decision taken by a collective leadership. Don't make a person excluded from our party. You have to ask the leaders," he added.
KK Shailaja contested the assembly polls from Mattannur constituency and got over 61.97 votes. Her work during the Nipah virus outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic had brought widespread recognition for the state health department. She was also chosen as the "Top Thinker of the Year" by a magazine in the United Kingdom. She was also on the Financial Times list of influential people.
Social media users seemed outraged after the announcement was made on Tuesday. Many thought it unfair that a minister such as KK Shailaja was being removed despite her accomplishments.
KK Shailaja deserves to be in the Kerala cabinet. Thoroughly disappointing news about her exclusion. I hope they reconsider.
— Manu S Pillai 🇮🇳 (@UnamPillai) May 18, 2021
There is a whiff of sexism to this. Even with the criterion that besides the CM, cabinet will be all new faces, I think ShailajaT merits an exception.
One user hoped that the ruling party in Kerala reconsiders its decision as "KK Shailaja deserves to be in the Kerala cabinet."
They also alleged, "There is a whiff of sexism to this. Even with the criterion that besides the CM, the cabinet will be all new faces, I think ShailajaT merits an exception."
KK Shailaja Teacher won with a record margin of over 60,000 votes! and now she is not part of Pinarayi 2 cabinet
— Mr.VPC VISHNUPRASAD C (@mr_vpc) May 18, 2021
In my opinion LDF won because of Shailaja Teacher#KKShailaja #KkshailajaTeacher #pinarayi #Pinarayivijayan #Kerala #KeralaCabinet #Thiruvananthapuram #LDF #cpim pic.twitter.com/0NAZbvKQbM
Another user pointed out the margin with which Shailaja won the recent assembly elections. They wrote, "KK Shailaja Teacher won with a record margin of over 60,000 votes! and now she is not part of Pinarayi 2 cabinet
"In my opinion LDF won because of Shailaja Teacher," they added.
With my common sense I don't get why she was dropped. After the historic win, PV could have gone for a humble start. But with the decision to keep India's best performing health minister out, & an oath taking event with 500 amidst the lockdown, the govt is off to a wrong start.
— Stanly Johny (@johnstanly) May 18, 2021
Stanly Johny, a journalist, felt that the Kerala government is off to a wrong start by dropping "India's best performing health minister".
He wrote, "With my common sense I don't get why she was dropped. After the historic win, PV could have gone for a humble start. But with the decision to keep India's best-performing health minister out, & an oath-taking event with 500 amidst the lockdown, the govt is off to a wrong start."
CPI(M) and LDF asked votes saying this is a vote for continuity. Bringing new faces is welcome, but why all? Where is the continuity? KK Shailaja won a landslide victory, she not being part of the cabinet shows this vote was not for continuity
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) May 18, 2021
KK Shailaja got dropped from the cabinet inspite of winning her seat by a record margin of 60,000 votes because Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi has sensed that he is all set to be replaced soon. Is that the reason why his son-in-law Mohammed Riyaz is part of the new Kerala Cabinet?? https://t.co/N0cI24VweP
— Priti Gandhi - प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) May 18, 2021
True, this. There is a reason the LDF won a second term and KK Shailaja won by the biggest margin. @vijayanpinarayi this needs a rethink asap. https://t.co/7E0V1PGwUk
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) May 18, 2021