Pinarayi Vijayan

Pinarayi Vijayan (born 24 May 1945) is an Indian politician serving as the Chief Minister of Kerala since 2016, currently in his second consecutive term. He is a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and is considered one of the most popular and effective chief ministers in India. His governance model, particularly Kerala's handling of floods and COVID-19, has earned national and international recognition. Born in Pinarayi village in Kannur district of Kerala, Vijayan came from a modest background. He entered politics through the student wing of the CPI(M) and became the party's state secretary in 1998, a position he held until 2015 — making him one of the longest-serving state secretaries in the party's history. As Chief Minister, Vijayan has overseen Kerala's remarkable response to multiple crises. During the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019, his government's effective disaster management was praised worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala's early and systematic response — including extensive testing, contact tracing, and community health initiatives — became a global model that was studied by international health organizations. Under his leadership, Kerala has maintained its position as India's most literate state while also making significant strides in digital governance (FDEX model), healthcare infrastructure, and sustainable development. The K-FON project, aimed at providing internet as a basic right, and LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) program have been internationally recognized. His government has also attracted significant IT investment to Kerala through projects like Technopark expansion.