Priyanca Radhakrishnan will be sworn in on Friday.
New Delhi:
Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who became New Zealand’s Prime Minister of Indian descent on Monday, received a large number of congratulatory messages on social media. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among many leaders who congratulated her on her career leap.
The 41-year-old is a member of the Labor Party, “which has its roots in Kerala,” Vijayan said in a tweet today. “It gives us great pleasure to learn that Priyanca Radhakrishnan (@priyancanzlp) has become New Zealand’s very first Indian-born Prime Minister. The leader of the Labor Party has her roots in Kerala. On behalf of the people of the State, we extend our warmest regards. (sic), ”he said in a tweet.
Weeks after her re-election and a landslide victory, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden on Monday appointed Radhakrishnan and four other new ministers.
It gives us great pleasure to learn that Priyanca Radhakrishnan (@priyancanzlp) became New Zealand’s very first Indian-born prime minister. The leader of the Labor Party has his roots in Kerala. On behalf of the people of the State, we extend our warmest greetings.
– Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) November 3, 2020
The Indian-born leader has been appointed Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Minister of Youth and Associate Minister of Social Development and Employment.
Calling it an “incredibly special day,” Ms Radhakrishnan said in a Facebook post yesterday: “I feel a lot, including a tremendous sense of privilege to be a part of our government. A big thank you to everyone who took the lead. Message / call / text time congratulatory messages – thank you all Humbled to have been appointed Minister and look forward to working with an incredible group of cabinet and caucus colleagues this quarter.
Today has been an incredibly special day. I feel a lot of things, including an overwhelming sense of privilege to …
posted by Priyanca Radhakrishnan MP sure Monday, November 2, 2020
Ms Radhakrishnan has spent her professional life advocating for the interests of people whose voices are often unknown – women survivors of domestic violence and migrant workers who have been exploited, the PTI news agency reported.
She was first elected as a Member of Parliament belonging to the Labor Party in September 2017.
Congressman and MP for Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor, in his congratulatory message on Twitter, shared a report that Ms Radhakrishnan is from Paravoor in Ernakulam. “Congratulation to
@priyancanzlp to become New Zealand Prime Minister of Indian descent. The Keralites are very proud of this news! (sic), ”Mr. Tharoor tweeted.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan will be sworn in on Friday.
