10 Things To Know About Chinchu Rani, New Minister In Kerala Cabinet

Chinchu Rani is one of the three women ministers who was appointed in Kerala chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan's cabinet. The cabinet is now all set to take oath on Thursday.

Pinarayi's entire team of ministers has been replaced, except for himself, and Chinchu Rani is one of the fresh faces. She has now been appointed as Kerala's Animal Husbandry Minister. Besides her, Dr R Bindu, and Veena George have also been appointed as state ministers. Bindu is to become the Minister of Higher Education, while George may be made the Health Minister.

The swearing-in ceremony is taking place on 20 May at the central stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Here's what we know about Chinchu Rani:

1. Chinchu Rani was born in Bharanikkavu, Kollam, in 1963. She completed her schooling from Lower Primary School, Bharanikkavu, and VVHS, Ayathil.
2. She completed her higher education from Sree Narayana College for Women in Kollam.
3. Rani was a well-known, district-level athlete during her college days.
4. She entered politics through the All India Students Federation (AISF).
5. Rani is one of the three first women from the Communist Party of India (CPI), to have been appointed as a minister after 1964. Her appointment comes after CPI's K R Gowri became a minister.
6. She is the first-time MLA, who secured over 13,678 votes from the Chadayamangalam Assembly constituency in the Kollam district. She is also a member of the CPI's national council.
7. Besides this, she was the youngest member of the Eravipuram Panchayat.
8. She is the present state president of Kerala Mahila Sangham and president of C Achutha Menon Co-operative Hospital.
9. She has previously been appointed as District Panchayat member, and also its vice-president.
10. Her husband, D Sukesan is a CPI leader and secretary of the Kollam District Library Council. They have two children, Nandu Sukesan and Nandana Rani.