KK Shailaja, former Kerala Health Minister has been dropped from the Pinarayi Vijayan’s new cabinet.
The party said that it was a ‘policy decision’ and she had accepted and ready to contribute as a member of party further.
KK Shailaja has been the most famous name in the southern politics, as Health Minister of Kerala she made many drastic changes in the health support system and was the power of woman all over the state. She was also in the feature page of Times nagazine.
The new cabinet will have mostly first-time minister, the Chief Minister being the exception.
Shailaja will be party Whip.
“It is a policy decision of our party. So according to that decision, I also decided to quit,” the 64-year-old told NDTV.
Acknowledging the outpouring on social media protesting against the decision, she said: “That’s all emotional.” She was a first-time minister too, she pointed out.
“Everyone… when they get a new responsibility they are freshers and newcomers. We have to give others a chance too. Here are so many workers in our party, if they get the opportunity, they will also work hard,” said Shailaja.
“I am satisfied that I worked sincerely and worked hard with my colleagues. I had so many experiences…I had to face challenges and difficult situations – Covid, Nipah…But our government overcame them,” she said.
“It was all teamwork and I am satisfied with the teamwork. I have so many touching experiences in these five years…”
“Sorry to see Shailaja Teacher leave the Kerala cabinet. Aside from her reputed competence and efficiency, I always found her helpful, responsive and accessible as Health Minister, especially during the #Covid crisis. She will be missed,” tweeted Mr Tharoor, a Congress MP from Kerala.
In the month of September she was also named in the UK-Based Propect magazine in “Top Thinker of the Year 2020”.