Former Kerala Health Minister Veena George is facing sharp internal criticism within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) following her defeat in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, with leaders at the party's Pathanamthitta district committee meeting reportedly lambasting her for an aloof and inaccessible style of functioning. The backlash marks a dramatic fall for a leader who, barely a decade ago, was the party's most visible new-generation face.

What the District Committee Said

At the ongoing Pathanamthitta district committee meeting, speaker after speaker reportedly trained their fire on the former minister. The central charge: that Veena George rarely answered phone calls and remained unreachable even during politically sensitive moments.

Several party functionaries are learnt to have stated openly that grassroots workers who had campaigned hard during elections could not reach her office — a grievance that, according to insiders, had been simmering well before the electoral defeat became public. Her office's functioning came under particular scrutiny, with criticism directed at Sajeevan, described as a close confidant of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a dominant figure in George's inner circle. Leaders allegedly argued that this tightly controlled coterie had systematically alienated both party workers and local elected representatives.

From Television Studios to the Centre of Power

George's trajectory within the CPI-M had been remarkable. A familiar television anchor before entering politics, she was personally handpicked by Pinarayi Vijayan to contest the 2016 Assembly elections — a move that paid off immediately, as she won the seat. She followed it with a second consecutive victory in 2021 and was subsequently awarded the high-profile Health portfolio in Vijayan's second ministry.

Her elevation had surprised many within the party at the time: several senior CPI-M leaders were reportedly overlooked to make room for the first-time minister in the cabinet. Once considered one of the brightest prospects of the party's new generation and closely associated with Vijayan, she had appeared on a clear upward trajectory.

Where It Began to Unravel

According to party insiders, the political tide turned sharply in the months preceding the 2026 elections. A particularly damaging episode involved the manner in which George handled a Congress protest at Kannur railway station weeks before polling. The incident became a focal point during the campaign and reinforced perceptions — already circulating within party ranks — that the minister had grown increasingly disconnected from ordinary voters and workers.

The Kannur episode, combined with the broader criticism of her inaccessibility, reportedly fed into a narrative that proved difficult to counter on the campaign trail.

A Narrowing Political Future

With her electoral defeat and the internal reckoning now unfolding simultaneously, George's political prospects appear uncertain. Adding to the pressure is the CPI-M's informal organisational norm of creating space for fresh faces after a leader has contested multiple elections.

Having already stood in three Assembly elections, party insiders suggest the likelihood of her receiving another opportunity has become slim. For a leader who moved from television studios to the heart of Kerala's political establishment within a decade, the speed and scale of the reversal has, by many accounts within the party, come as a surprise.