"Leadership is not about gender alone. Policy is what matters most. Even if a woman becomes Chief Minister, it will not bring change unless the policies are correct," she said, pushing back against those projecting her as a frontrunner for the top post.

Firm Backing for Vijayan

Shailaja reiterated that the LDF is contesting the Assembly elections squarely under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, underscoring his decade-long governance record. "Currently, our party is fighting the election under the leadership of Comrade Pinarayi. He is a veteran leader who has led the state effectively. Even now, the party has decided to move forward under his leadership," she said. She also expressed confidence that Vijayan would secure a comfortable victory from the Dharmadam constituency.

No Personal Ambition, Party Decides

When pressed directly on whether she harbours ambitions for the Chief Minister's post, the former Health Minister categorically ruled them out. "I have never thought about such a position. The party has asked me to contest, and I am doing that. If I win, I will serve as an MLA. Decisions regarding leadership and ministerial roles are taken by the party at the appropriate time, and I will abide by them," she said. The remarks signal that any leadership transition within the LDF, if at all, will follow the party's collective decision-making process rather than individual aspiration.

Focus on Peravoor's Development

Shailaja, who earned widespread national recognition for her management of the Covid-19 pandemic as Kerala's Health Minister, said voters in Peravoor are focused on development outcomes rather than political personalities. "In Peravoor, people are looking for development. There is a strong demand for progress similar to other constituencies. That is what we are focusing on," she said. She acknowledged that her pandemic-era work resonates with some voters but maintained that the broader election discourse centres on welfare delivery and governance.

Gender Debate Persists Despite Pushback

The discussion around women's leadership in Kerala has gained traction in recent weeks, with certain political quarters projecting Shailaja as a natural contender given her national profile. Her deliberate distancing from such narratives reflects a broader CPI-M discipline of subordinating individual ambition to party direction. Notably, this is not the first time Shailaja has deflected questions about her political future — a pattern consistent with the party's collective leadership ethos. As Kerala awaits election results, the LDF remains publicly united behind Pinarayi Vijayan, even as the gender representation conversation continues to surface in the state's political discourse.