Does Pinarayi Vijayan’s new cabinet in Kerala mark the overshadowing of the party by the leader?

Earlier this week, when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recommended to the governor the list of cabinet ministers for his second term in power in Kerala after a thumping victory in the recent Assembly polls, social media exploded with criticism.

Many from Kerala were appalled by the decision to drop KK Shailaja, the health minister who had been praised widely for her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only was she seen as an able administrator, she is also a very popular leader, exhibited by the fact that she won her seat in the April election by a record margin.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has defended the move to drop all sitting ministers in the Cabinet as a decision made keeping in mind the future of the party. Not only has there been no opposition from the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) on cabinet selection, even the central leadership of the party has been careful not to make any statements or interventions that could upset Vijayan.

The developments have led to a big question: Was Vijayan’s decision really about strengthening the party or his own position as the leader?

Victory and after

The question of whether Vijayan is now the tallest leader in Kerala has become…

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