Kerala CM Defends Appointing Chief Electoral Officer as His Secy

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Monday defended the appointment of CEO Ratan U Kelkar as his secretary, stating that no political party in Kerala, including the BJP or CPI(M), had raised any allegation against him before the elections. 

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Satheesan said the appointment of a Chief Electoral Officer follows a standard constitutional process in which the state government submits a panel of officers and the Chief Election Commissioner



makes the final selection.

Reacting to a query, he questioned the basis of the controversy surrounding Kelkar's transfer and appointment, noting that several officers who previously served as Chief Electoral Officer had later continued in important government positions. 

He cited former CEO Nalini Netto as an example, pointing out that she later served in the Home Department, became Chief Secretary and also worked in the Chief Minister's Office.