THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday firmly defended appointing former Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar as his secretary, brushing aside allegations of political impropriety.
Speaking to the media after a cabinet meeting here, Satheesan questioned comparisons with West Bengal, where the Chief Electoral Officer had faced serious allegations during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, including the deletion of a large number of voters. The Opposition LDF had accused the Congress of double standards following the appointment of the former CEO to a key position in the Chief Minister’s office, reminding them of past criticism against similar appointments in BJP-ruled states like West Bengal.
“In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress, Congress, and CPM had levelled serious allegations against the CEO during the SIR process, including voter deletions. However, no such complaint was ever raised against Kelkar in Kerala,” he said.
Satheesan said that while some political parties had raised complaints during the elections, none had ever accused Kelkar of manipulating the results. “Did Kelkar make us win 102 seats? What kind of argument is that?” he asked. The Chief Minister further pointed out that Kelkar had been included in the panel for appointment as CEO by the previous CPM-led LDF government itself. “The panel was submitted by the Pinarayi government. Did they recommend his name to help the UDF win 102 seats? How does that argument even hold?” he asked.
Satheesan added that the appointment of a CEO is made by the Election Commission from a panel forwarded by the state government. “A CEO is appointed to conduct elections. Once that responsibility is over, can an officer’s career simply end there?” he questioned.
The Chief Minister cited the example of former bureaucrat Nalini Netto, who served as Chief Electoral Officer before later becoming Chief Secretary and also working in the Chief Minister’s office during Pinarayi Vijayan’s tenure.
The Chief Minister said Kelkar had held prominent positions in the bureaucracy during the previous LDF government’s tenure, serving as Secretary of Taxes and Commissioner of GST. “His experience is crucial, especially since I am also handling the Finance Portfolio,” the CM said.
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