Thiruvananthapuram: A fresh political row has emerged in Kerala following the appointment of senior bureaucrat Rathan U. Kelkar as Secretary to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), both of which have questioned the Congress party's position on the role of election officials in government appointments.
Opposition leaders argued that Congress had previously objected to similar appointments in other states and are now defending a comparable decision in Kerala. Critics described the move as inconsistent with the party's earlier stance on maintaining the political neutrality of election administrators.
The controversy intensified after photographs of Kelkar taking charge were released by the Chief Minister's Office, triggering reactions across the political spectrum. While the state government has defended the appointment as an administrative decision, opposition parties have demanded further clarification from Congress leadership.
Political analysts say the dispute could become one of the first major confrontations facing the newly formed government, with debates centering on governance, administrative ethics, and the separation between electoral institutions and political offices.
As the controversy continues, attention is likely to remain focused on how the Kerala government responds to the criticism and whether the appointment will have broader political implications in the state.
By DeepState Network
Kerala, India | May 24, 2026
