Pinarayi Vijayan’s wife sets out her agenda for him

Pinarayi Vijayan has converted his wife Kamala, whom he married in 1978, into a perfect Communist. For, she wants that “Vijayettan” should address the common people’s basic needs.

She has set out her own agenda for Vijayan, who is set to become the chief minister on Wednesday. “The people should be able to travel freely, the undue delay in meeting doctors in government hospitals should be avoided, medicines should be provided to patients at an affordable rate, there should be uninterrupted power and water supply as it’s the women who suffer a lot,” Ms Vijayan told this newspaper in the third-floor flat belonging to the couple opposite the AKG Centre.

The flat was full of visitors, including relatives and friends, on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of the LDF government. Amidst the whiff of Malabar fish curry emanating from the kitchen, Ms Vijayan told this newspaper that Mr Vijayan is a good husband and a father. He does not carry his office baggage to home and vice-versa.

Ms Vijayan had served as a social studies teacher at Thalassery St. Joseph’s high school (now elevated as higher secondary school) for 16 years.

She recalled that her father, Aandy Master, who was a primary school teacher, and homemaker mother Janaki brought the marriage proposal of Mr Vijayan when she was studying for B.Ed in 1978. Her elder sister warned that life would not be easy with a hardcore Communist like Pinarayi Vijayan. Thanks to her background, she gelled with the family in no time, taking care of his mother Kalyani Koran.

“Initially, I was scared of not being able to lead a normal life. But over the years, I took it in my stride. Unlike what the media says, ‘Vijayettan’ is a complete family man. He has no time to take us out and so I don’t wish for such things,” Ms Vijayan said, who is a bit apprehensive about moving to Cliff House, the official residence of the CM. Ms Vijayan, dressed impeccably whether in saris or salwar kameez, is not bothered about the criticism that their son, Vivek Kiran, did management studies in Birmingham University and daughter T. Veena studied in a self-financing college. Now Vivek is working with HSBC bank in Abu Dhabi and Veena is running a startup company in Bengaluru.