The all-new Kerala cabinet includes the dropping of former Health Minister KK Shailaja, who received widespread praise for her handling of the Covid health crisis

Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in as Chief Minister of Kerala for a second time on Thursday afternoon, after guiding the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government to a historic second successive term in the April-May election.

Mr Vijayan was sworn-in by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan in a brief ceremony that was conducted in accordance with protocols in place during the COVID-19 pandemic; the ceremony itself was only allowed after the Kerala High Court gave its permission Wednesday, citing similar events in Tamil Nadu and Bengal.

Moments after being sworn in Mr Vijayan tweeted: “Took the oaths of office and secrecy, as the Chief Minister of Kerala. Together, let us realise a people’s alternative, and build a Nava Keralam!”

Pinarayi Vijayan will head an all-new 20-member cabinet – including 12 from the CPM and four from the CPI – with no carry-over – apart from himself – from the previous administration.

The new team has three women – Dr R Bindu, Chinchu Rani and Veena George – one more than last time and a record number for any Kerala government.

75 per cent of the new cabinet are first-time ministers and 10 are first-time MLAs.

The sweeping changes – described by Mr Vijayan as a party decision – include the dropping of former Health Minister KK Shailaja, who was widely praised for her handling of the Covid crisis.

KK Shailaja, fondly called ‘teacher’, was one of Mr Vijayan’s most popular ministers and won her election from Mattannur in Kannur with a record margin of 67,013 votes.

When asked about her exclusion, she told : “It is a policy decision. I was also a newcomer last time. None of those from the previous term are in this time.”

“It was the party’s decision not to include anyone for two consecutive terms as ministers. It was based on this policy that KK Shailaja was not included in the new cabinet,” Mr Vijayan said.

Other senior leaders who held ministerial posts in the previous government – Thomas Isaac (Finance) and MM Mani (Power) – have also been dropped.

The LDF bucked the trends to win the historic second consecutive term – Kerala normally alternates between Left and Congress-led governments – in the April-May election. The alliance won 99 of 140 seats in this election, with the Congress claiming 41 and the BJP failing to open its account.