Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as CM for second term; son-in-law Riyas gets PWD, Tourism
21 May 2021 10:27:57
Thiruvananthapuram, May 21: Kerala's newly elected Pinarayi Vijayan took the charge of the Chief minister's office after taking the oath for the second time on Thursday. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office to Vijayan and his 20 cabinet colleagues at an event at the central stadium.
Vijayan was elected the parliamentary party leader on Tuesday. The new Kerala state cabinet will have 21 members including the chief minister.
The portfolios of the 21 ministers were announced on Friday. According to the announcement, Vijayan will retain Home, Vigilance, IT portfolios, and several other key portfolios while his son-in-law PA Mohamed Riya will handle PWD and tourism. Veena George will succeed in the popular KK Shailaja's position and will handle Health Ministry and Family Welfare. Riyas and Veena- both are first time ministers.
Moreover, first-time legislator K N Balagopal will helm the Finance Department. Besides, P Rajeev will handle Law and Industries, and V Sivankutty will helm General Education and Labour departments. M V Govindan was given the charge of local self-government and excise. He is a third-term legislator.
Apart from the Veena George, the Vijayan cabinet also consist of 2 women legislators. A Vijayaraghavan would hold the Higher Education and Social Justice portfolios Chinchurani, the first-ever woman Minister of CPI, got Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijayan through social media. He said, “Congratulations to Shri @vijayanpinarayi Ji on taking oath as CM and commencing his second term in office.”
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