Veena George, Kerala's 1st Woman Journalist-Turned-Politician, Now Minister

As a TV personality, Veena George was the co-presenter of "Naam Munnott", the television programme in which Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan used to interact with select audience.

Journalist-turned-politician Veena George will helm Kerala's Health Ministry in the successive LDF cabinet, replacing KK Shailaja at a time when the state is witnessing an unprecedented Covid-19 surge. Ms Shailaja's non-inclusion, after she played a leading role in the state's fight against Covid-19, had created a flutter and various sections of the society including celebrities had batted for her reinstatement. Veena George, a two-time legislator, represents Aranmula constituency in the state assembly. Expectations are high on the 45-year-old mother of two to match up to Shaialaja''s work in Covid management, although Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said that it was a collective effort of the government.