VIJAYAN TAKES OATH AS KERALA CM FOR 2ND TIME

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, who led the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to an unprecedented consecutive victory in the April 6 assembly polls, on Thursday took oath as chief minister of Kerala for the second time along with 20 ministers.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office to 77-year-old Vijayan at a gathering of fewer than 400 people at the central stadium in the state capital.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) stormed back to power in the recently-concluded assembly election after winning a brute majority of 99 seats in the 140-member House. The CPI(M), however, decided to drop all members of the outgoing ministry other than the chief minister to induct fresh faces.

Among new ministers inducted into the cabinet was journalist-turned-politician Veena George (44) who was given the health department portfolio, replacing the highprofile KK Shailaja.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijayan after he was swearing in.