Thiruvananthapuram: M.B. Rajesh, a first-time legislator and two-time member of the Lok Sabha, was sworn in on Tuesday as a minister in the second Pinarayi Vijayan administration. Up until last week, he served as the speaker of the Kerala Assembly.
The resignation of State Minister for Excise and LSG, M.V. Govindan, from the government, was the cause of this reorganisation. Govindan succeeded Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who resigned owing to illness, as the new CPI-M state secretary.
In front of Chief Minister Vijayan on Tuesday morning, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath to Rajesh.
With regards to the portfolio, it remains to be seen if Vijayan will hand over both the portfolios that Govindan handled to Rajesh. Speculation is that the excise department will be handed over to State Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan and in lieu, the Culture portfolio will be given to Rajesh.
Rajesh rose from student politics and has been very active in the youth wing of the CPI-M. He was fielded from the Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency and won successive terms. His hat-trick was thwarted in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
But, in the 2021 Assembly polls, he turned out to be a giant killer when he humbled young Congress leader V.T. Balaram, who was aiming for a hat-trick wins from the Thrithala Assembly constituency in Palakkad district.
Rajesh like most of the CPI-M leaders of his era is known for his articulate nature and was often seen taking an active part in TV debates till he became the Speaker.
Recently, he had to face the heat following the appointment of his wife as a teacher at the Kalady Sanskrit University last year after allegations surfaced of irregularity in the appointment.
With inputs from IANS