The Teacher Who Created History In Kerala Polls & Politics

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has retained power in the state. This is for the first time in 44 years that an incumbent government was re-elected and everyone is appreciating the leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan despite the strong force of BJP.

But one person has created history in Kerala politics and polls. She is KK Shailaja who is popularly called as Shailaja Teacher. Shailaja is the health minister and she played a huge role in containing the Covid-19 virus first wave in the state. For her outstanding efforts in containing the virus in Kerala, UK-based Prospect magazine selected Shailaja as the `Top Thinker of the Year 2020′, beating New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Restoring the faith in her, CM Vijayan offered her ticket yet again and Shailaja lived up to the expectations of the CM. She contested from Mattannur constituency and her victory was resounding and historic too.

Shailaja won from Mattannur with a margin of 61,035 votes over Illikkal Augusthy of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and this is said to be the highest win margin in Kerala polls. The last time Kerala reported the highest margin of votes victory was in 2006 by M Chandran with 47,000 votes.

Even CM Vijayan could not manage the margin of Shailaja as he won the election with 50,000 votes.

Despite the victory, the Kerala government is still monitoring on Covid-19 situation in the state and this is called a working government.

Kudos to Shailaja and CM Vijayan.