->Aslam.k.p at 18:16, 30 December 2021

2021-12-30T18:16:15Z

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = K. K. Shailaja
| image = K. K. Shailaja.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|11|20}}
| birth_place = [[Mattanur]], [[Kannur district|Kannur]], [[Kerala]], India
| awards = [[Central European University|CEU]] Open Society Prize (2021)
| alma_mater = {{plainlist| * [[Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur]] ([[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc.Chemistry]])
* Visvesvarayya College ([[Bachelor of Education|B.Ed.]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Health Min KK Shailaja gets lauded for handling COVID-19 in the state: A look at her career milestones|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/india/article/kerala-health-min-kk-shailaja-gets-lauded-for-handling-covid-19-in-the-state-a-look-at-her-career-milestones/597084|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Times Now}}</ref>}}
| other names =
| office1 = [[First Vijayan ministry|Minister for Health and Family Welfare]], [[Government of Kerala]]
| term_start1 = 25 May 2016
| term_end1 = 19 May 2021
| predecessor1 = [[V. S. Sivakumar]]
| successor1 = [[Veena George]]
| office2 = [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start2 = 24 May 2021
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = [[E. P. Jayarajan]]
| constituency2 = [[Mattanur]]
| term_start3 = 19 May 2016
| term_end3 = 02 May 2021
| predecessor3 = [[K. P. Mohanan]]
| successor3 = [[K. P. Mohanan]]
| constituency3 = [[Kuthuparamba (State Assembly constituency)|Kuthuparamba]]
| term_start5 = 1996
| term_end5 = 2001
| predecessor5 = [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
| successor5 = [[P. Jayarajan]]
| constituency5 = [[Kuthuparamba (State Assembly constituency)|Kuthuparamba]]
| term_start4 = 2006
| term_end4 = 2011
| predecessor4 = A. D. Mustafa
| successor4 = [[Sunny Joseph (politician)|Sunny Joseph]]
| constituency4 = [[Peravoor (State Assembly constituency)|Peravoor]]
| office = [[Chief Whip]] of [[CPI(M)]] in [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start = 20 May 2021
| term_end =
| party = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| website =
| religion =
| year = 2016
| spouse = {{marriage|K. Bhaskaran|19 April 1981}}
| children = {{flatlist|
* Lasith
* Sobhith}}
| parents = {{plainlist|
* K. Kunthan
* K. K. Shantha}}
}}
'''K. K. Shailaja''' (born 20 November 1956) is an Indian politician and [[former]] [[Health Minister]] of [[Kerala]] who hails from [[Kannur district]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://kerala.gov.in/k-k-shailaja-teacher | title=K. K. Shailaja - Government of Kerala, India}}</ref> She currently serves as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) representing [[Mattanur (State Assembly constituency)|Mattanur constituency]] in 15th [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]. She is a Central Committee member of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-03-18|title=Leadership|url=https://cpim.org/leadership|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Communist Party of India (Marxist)|language=en}}</ref> Before entering active politics, she worked as a high school physics teacher. In June(2020), Shailaja was honoured by the United Nations for her efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. She was among a few of the world leaders invited to speak on the occasion of the United Nations Public Service Day. K. K. Shailaja was awarded the [[Central European University|CEU]] Open Society Prize for 2021.

She was previously elected as the MLA of [[Kuthuparamba (State Assembly constituency)|Kuthuparamba constituency]] twice in 1996 and 2016 and [[Peravoor (State Assembly constituency)|Peravoor constituency]] in 2006. She served as the Minister of Health, Social Justice and Woman and Child Development (Kerala) in the [[first Vijayan ministry]] (2016 – 2021). But In the [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]], Shailaja won the largest margin ever (over 60,000 votes) in the history of Kerala Legislative Assembly elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Rockstar' Health Minister Shailaja Teacher wins by largest margin in Kerala history - The Week|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/05/02/rockstar-health-minister-shailaja-teacher-wins-by-largest-margin-in-kerala-history.amp.html|access-date=2021-05-03|website=www.theweek.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KK Shailaja: Not just a teacher, but a rockstar|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/may/03/kk-shailaja-not-just-a-teacher-but-a-rockstar-2297714.html|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KK Shailaja set to win with record margin, lead crosses 61,000|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kk-shailaja-set-to-win-with-record-margin-lead-crosses-61-000-kerala-1.5635539|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==

Shailaja was born on 20 November 1956 to K. Kunthan and K. K. Shantha.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/14kla/Members-Eng/115%20K%20K%20Shailaja%20Teacher.pdf |website=Kerala Niyamasabha |access-date=19 May 2020| title=K. K. SHAILAJA TEACHER}}</ref> She obtained her [[Bachelor of Science]] in Chemistry from [[Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur]] and [[Bachelor of Education]] from Visvesvarayya College in 1980. She then served as a high school physics teacher at [[Sivapuram, Kerala|Shivapuram]] High School in Kannur. After a seven-year service, she retired in 2004 for full-time political action.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Political career==

K. K. Shailaja has been elected as [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI (M)]] Central Committee Member in the 22nd Congress of the CPI(M) held between April 18 and 22 2018 at Hyderabad, Telangana<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-03-18|title=Leadership|url=https://cpim.org/leadership|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Communist Party of India (Marxist)|language=en}}</ref> and the State Secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association.

She represented Kuthuparamba in 1996 and [[Peravoor]] in 2006, both of which are in Kannur district, in the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]. Shailaja won a total of 67,013 votes in the Kuthuparamba constituency, winning by a margin of 12,291 votes. In the first [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] ministry, she was the minister of Health and Social Welfare.

As Health Minister, Shailaja Teacher has come to be highly regarded for her unwavering commitment and strong work ethic. As quoted from one of her colleagues in the Health Department: "She is a tough taskmaster. It doesn't matter if it's midnight or if she is having any ailments, the minister is there to monitor every arrangement. In the case of nCoV prevention and control, the minister is leading from the front by convening assessment meetings daily,"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/feb/05/tough-mind-tender-heart-how-kk-shailaja-is-leading-keralas-coronavirus-battle-2099409.html |access-date=19 May 2020| title=Tough mind, tender heart: How KK Shailaja is leading Kerala's coronavirus battle}}</ref>

Her leadership during the [[2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala|Nipah]] and [[2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kerala|COVID-19]] outbreaks was widely lauded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronoavirus-no-need-to-panic-says-kerala-govt-patient-stable-1642131-2020-01-31|title={{sic|Coron|oavirus|nolink=y}}: No need to panic, says Kerala govt; patient stable|last1=ThrissurJanuary 31|first1=Press Trust of India|last2=January 31|first2=2020UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-03-26|last3=Ist|first3=2020 22:35}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/extraordinary-measures-kk-shailaja-kerala-nipah-virus-5835834/|title='Couldn't afford to show fear': Kerala's health minister KK Shailaja on dealing with Nipah|date=2019-07-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref> She had set up a team which enabled the fast diagnosis and further management of the deadly viruses. The film ''[[Virus (2019 film)|Virus]]'' is based on the Nipah virus outbreak in the state. In this film [[Revathi]] portrayed the character based on her.

K. K. Shailaja has received international attention for her leadership in tackling [[COVID-19]] pandemic in Kerala.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Masih|first=Niha|date=|title=Aggressive testing, contact tracing, cooked meals: How the Indian state of Kerala flattened its coronavirus curve|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/aggressive-testing-contact-tracing-cooked-meals-how-the-indian-state-of-kerala-flattened-its-coronavirus-curve/2020/04/10/3352e470-783e-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-08|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=What the world can learn from Kerala about how to fight covid-19|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/04/13/999313/kerala-fight-covid-19-india-coronavirus/|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala earns praise from BBC panel for efficiently handling coronavirus cases|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/03/05/kerala-earns-praise-from-bbc-panel-for-efficiently-handling-coronavirus-cases.html|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A Nipah Warrior, Kerala Health Min is Now Fighting Coronavirus|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/coronavrius-in-kerala-health-minister-shailaja-teacher|date=2020-03-13|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala health minister: Attacking coronavirus, defending against barbs|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/kerala-health-minister-attacking-coronavirus-defending-against-barbs-1.70400452|website=gulfnews.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Till around mid-March, she gave daily press briefings. She was invited by the [[United Nations]] to participate in a panel discussion on [[United Nations Public Service Day]] 2020, for her efforts to fight [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] in her state on June 23, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|author=The Hindu Net Desk|date=2020-06-28|title=Watch {{!}} UN honours Kerala Health Minister K.K Shailaja|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/watch-un-honours-kerala-health-minister-kk-shailaja/article31937535.ece|access-date=2020-09-03|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Scroll Staff|title=Coronavirus: UN honours Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja for her efforts to tackle pandemic|url=https://scroll.in/latest/965552/coronavirus-un-honours-kerala-health-minister-kk-shailaja-for-her-efforts-to-tackle-pandemic|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jun 23|first1=Rajiv G. {{!}} TNN {{!}}|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=21:07|title=Kerala health minister honoured in UN webinar on Covid-19 {{!}} Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-health-minister-honoured-in-un-webinar-on-covid-19/articleshow/76535549.cms|access-date=2020-06-24|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> [[The Guardian]] described her as "coronavirus slayer" and "rock star health minister".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Spinney|first=Laura|date=2020-05-14|title=The coronavirus slayer! How Kerala's rock star health minister helped save it from Covid-19|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/the-coronavirus-slayer-how-keralas-rock-star-health-minister-helped-save-it-from-covid-19|access-date=2020-06-24|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala health minister invited to speak at UN event|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/06/23/kerala-health-minister-invited-to-speak-at-un-event.html|access-date=2020-06-24|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref> [[BBC News]] featured her among a list of Asian women corona fighters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Monitoring – Essential Media Insight|url=https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c201jky3|website=monitoring.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> She was also featured by [[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] Magazine as a "Vogue Warrior".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vogue Warriors: Meet Kerala's health minister who is taking the state out of the pandemic|url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/vogue-warriors-kk-shailaja-kerala-health-minister-covid-19-response|website=Vogue India|language=en-IN|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> The British magazine [[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]] selected her as the world's 'top thinker' of 2020, pushing the Prime Minister of New Zealand [[Jacinda Ardern]] to the 2nd position.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Team|first=Prospect|title=The world's top 50 thinkers 2020: the winner|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/the-worlds-top-50-thinkers-2020-the-winner|access-date=2020-09-03|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Right lady: UK magazine 'Prospect' names KK Shailaja as world's 'top thinker' for COVID-19|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/sep/02/right-lady-uk-magazine-prospect-names-kk-shailaja-as-worlds-top-thinker-for-covid-19-2191666.html|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=N|first=Smitha|date=2020-09-03|title=UK magazine: Kerala health minister K.K Shailaja Top Thinker 2020, Jacinda at No.2|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/030920/uk-magazine-kerala-health-minister-kk-shailaja-top-thinker-2020-jac.html|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Health Minister named 'Top Thinker of 2020' by UK magazine|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/09/02/kerala-health-minister-named-top-thinker-of-2020-by-uk-magazine.html|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref> Financial Times named Shailaja as one of the world's most influential women of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Who have been the most influential women of 2020? FT readers respond|url=https://www.ft.com/content/469df412-7ed8-416e-99c3-2fabf0996ad6|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-06|website=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref>

Her exclusion in the [[second Vijayan ministry]], which includes all debutants except chief minister, was a subject of controversy in media outlets and in social media.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/amid-criticisms-dropping-kk-shailaja-cpim-defends-pinarayi-s-bold-decision-149075 | title=Amid criticisms for dropping KK Shailaja, CPI(M) defends Pinarayi’s ‘bold decision’ | publisher=The NewsMinute | work=Neethu Joseph ,Shiba Kurian | date=18 May 2021 | access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-k-k-shailaja-first-casualty-in-pinarayi-vijayan-second-wave/articleshow/82756747.cms?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=TOI&fbclid=IwAR2VrjSusxKVQntPpfPE5bJ71cUYIDLDJZd_oh6BhWaKDWJKHbM7O1qRkJs | title=Kerala: K K Shailaja first casualty in Pinarayi Vijayan second wave | publisher=[[The Times of India]] | date=19 May 2021 | access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
K. K. Shailaja is married to K. Bhaskaran since 19 April 1981, and they have two sons—Lasith and Sobhith. She stated that her hobbies include reading and listening to music. She has authored two books: ''Indian Varthamanavum Sthreesamoohavum''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian varthamanavum sthreesamoohavum|url=https://www.chinthapublishers.com/en/books/indian-varthamanavum-sthreesamoohavum-1032|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Chintha Publishers|language=en}}</ref> and ''China: Rashtram, Rashtreeyam, Kazhchakal''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=China rashtram rashtreeyam kazhchakal|url=https://www.chinthapublishers.com/en/books/china-rashtram-rashtreeyam-kazhchakal-554|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Chintha Publishers|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=K. K. Shailaja - Government of Kerala, India|url=https://kerala.gov.in/k-k-shailaja-teacher|access-date=2021-05-05|website=kerala.gov.in}}</ref>

==Electoral performance==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Kerala Legislative Assembly Election
!Year
!Constituency
!Closest Rival
!Majority
(Votes)
!Won/Loss
|-
|1996
|Kuthuparamba
|M.P.Krishnan Nair [[Indian National Congress|(INC)]]
|18993
|Won<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Assembly Election Results in 1996|url=https://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/1996-election-results.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.elections.in}}</ref>
|-
|2006
|Peravoor
|Professor A.D Mustafa [[Indian National Congress|(INC)]]
|9099
|Won<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Assembly Election Results in 2006|url=https://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/2006-election-results.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.elections.in}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|Peravoor
|[[Sunny Joseph (politician)|Sunny Joseph]] [[Indian National Congress|(INC)]]
|3440
|Loss<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Assembly Election Results in 2011|url=https://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/2011-election-results.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.elections.in}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|Kuthuparamba
|K P Mohanan [[Janata Dal (United)|JD(U)]]
|12291
|Won<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala Assembly Election Results in 2016|url=https://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/2016-election-results.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.elections.in}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|Mattanur
|[[Illikkal Augusthy]] [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|(RSP)]]
|60963
|Won<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS1115.htm?ac=15|access-date=2021-05-06|website=results.eci.gov.in}}</ref>
|}

==Awards and Honours==
In June 2020, Shailaja was honoured by the United Nations for her efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UN Public Service Day|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/06/23/default-calendar/un-public-service-day|access-date=2021-06-20|website=www.who.int|language=en}}</ref> She was among a few of the world leaders invited to speak on the occasion of the United Nations Public Service Day.<ref>{{Cite news|author=The Hindu Net Desk|date=2020-06-28|title=Watch {{!}} UN honours Kerala Health Minister K.K Shailaja|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/watch-un-honours-kerala-health-minister-kk-shailaja/article31937535.ece|access-date=2021-06-20|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> K. K. Shailaja was awarded the Central European University (CEU) Open Society Prize for 2021, the honour was in recognition of her social commitment to public health services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja honoured with CEU Open Society Prize|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/jun/19/former-kerala-health-minister-kk-shailaja-honoured-with-ceu-open-society-prize-2318648.html|access-date=2021-06-20|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KK Shailaja bags CEU Open Society Prize|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kk-shailaja-bags-ceu-open-society-prize-kerala-1.5763018|access-date=2021-06-20|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}

{{Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet 2016 |state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shailaja, KK}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Kannur district]]
[[Category:Women in Kerala politics]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]

K. K. Shailaja - Revision history

->Aslam.k.p at 18:16, 30 December 2021