Exclusion of Shylaja raises eyebrows

Her name figured prominently as the only Minister in the outgoing Cabinet likely to get a second term

The exclusion of the outgoing Health Minister K.K. Shylaja from the Pinarayi Vijayan 0.2 Cabinet has raised eyebrows in political circles and outside for what many see as an unexpected political twist as her name figured prominently as the only Minister in the outgoing Cabinet likely to get a second term in the second Left Democratic Front Ministry. The social media is abuzz with views and comments suggesting that the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s decision not to offer a second term to Ms. Shylaja amounts to sidelining her. Some even dared to draw parallels between her exclusion from the second Pinarayi Vijayan Ministry and the experience of the late K.R. Gouri in 1987 when she had been projected as the next Chief Minister during the election campaign then but subsequently denied the top post. Ms. Shylaja was in the global limelight for her handling of the pandemic situation and the earlier outbreak of Nipah in the State. Thanks to her popularity as Health Minister, she was envisioned future Chief Minister of the State by her admirers. Her electoral victory from Mattannur in Kannur with a record margin of over 60,000 votes was also seen as an endorsement of her popularity. Retired schoolteacher, Ms. Shylaja, popularly known as Shylaja Teacher, is a CPI(M) Central Committee member.