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
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
