Kerala will return to normalcy by November

Interview Veena George, health minister, Kerala

- CITHARA PAUL

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.