During the campaign for the 2021 Kerala assembly elections, a poster of Veena George had gone viral on social media. The poster had two photos on it. One was of Veena from her time as a news anchor, looking sophisticated and elegant. The other showed her during her first term as the MLA representing Aranmula constituency, looking sunburnt and almost dishevelled.
The contrast effectively conveyed the story of her transformation from a ‘TV personality’ into one of the most “grounded” MLAs in Kerala. That the voters in her constituency appreciated this transformation was proven when she retained the seat, winning by a margin of over 19,000 votes. Before Veena won Aranmula in 2016—by around 7,000 votes—it had been a Congress bastion.
Though she was expected to get a prime slot in the second Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, her appointment as the health minister—replacing K.K. Shailaja aka Shailaja teacher, who had gained international fame—surprised many. Veena also shocked old-school communists during the swearing-in ceremony by taking oath in God’s name.
Aged 45, she is the youngest member of the Left Democratic Front cabinet. And her first ministerial stint has been a baptism of fire. Apart from the hue and cry over the replacement of Shailaja teacher, Veena also had to tackle skyrocketing Covid-19 numbers from day one. The opposition has called her ineffective, immature and arrogant. And comparisons with Shailaja teacher have kept the pressure up.
Some critics say that Veena wilts easily under pressure. However, while she may be struggling to cope with her hectic schedule (and having lunch as late as 4pm), she does not come across as someone who gives up easily.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 17, 2021-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 17, 2021-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
How Anger Can Hurt Your Heart
Getting angry can constrict blood vessels and increase a person's risk of developing heart in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Winner in a wheelchair
Cerebral palsy could not stop Sarika from achieving her dream of becoming a civil servant
BONE SUPREMACY
Taking good care of your bones will take a big load off your old age
AT WHAT AGES DO PEOPLE FEEL MOST LONELY?
ACCORDING TO A US STUDY PUBLISHED in the journal Psychological Science, loneliness follows a U-shaped pattern in adulthood people are loneliest during younger and older adulthood, and least lonely in middle age.
MAMMOGRAM RECOMMENDED FROM AGE 40
THE US PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE (USPSTF) has issued new recommendations for all women to start getting mammograms every other year beginning at age 40 and continuing through age 74.
TREATING GUM DISEASE CAN HELP PREVENT AFib RECURRENCE
PATIENTS WHO HAD THEIR GUM DISEASE treated following treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib), or irregular heartbeat, are significantly less likely to suffer AFib recurrence, according to Japanese research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
LIFT OR STAIRS? ALWAYS CHOOSE STAIRS
ACCORDING TO A STUDY PRESENTED AT ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024, climbing stairs is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death.
ESKETAMINE INJECTION MAY REDUCE RISK OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
A SINGLE LOW DOSE INJECTION of esketamine given right after childbirth can reduce the risk of major postpartum depression by about three quarters, finds a US study published in The BMJ.
Nancy, how about Kanhaiya?
I have been following Nancy Tyagi on Instagram for over a year.
Cannes can do
Never mind that India is witnessing a massive general election, perhaps one of the dirtiest it has ever witnessed.
