'Double Standard': Congress Faces Heat Over Kerala Poll Chief's Appointment In CM Office
'Double Standard': Congress Faces Heat Over Kerala Poll Chief's Appointment In CM Office Published By Last Updated: May 24, 2026, 16:50 IST Rathan U Kelkar's
'Double Standard': Congress Faces Heat Over Kerala Poll Chief's Appointment In CM Office Published By Last Updated: May 24, 2026, 16:50 IST Rathan U Kelkar's appointment has sparked a sharp political exchange in the state, with both the CPI(M) and the BJP targeting the Congress. Rapid Read Senior IAS officer Rathan U Kelkar. (File image via X/@ANI) Amid mounting political controversy, senior IAS officer Rathan U Kelkar on Sunday assumed charge as secretary to Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan, triggering fresh attacks from the CPI(M), which accused the ruling Congress of “double standards" over appointments involving former election officials. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) released photographs of Kelkar taking charge, a day after the state government issued orders transferring and posting the former Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to the Chief Minister’s office.
Reports also suggested that CM Satheesan had directed the officer to assume charge immediately, even though it was a Sunday. Political row intensifies The move has sparked a sharp political exchange in the state, with both the CPI(M) and the BJP targeting the Congress over the appointment. CPI(M) leaders alleged that the party was contradicting its earlier stance on similar appointments in other states. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, when asked about the controversy, avoided a direct comment, saying the issue was administrative in nature. “I have no opinion on such matters. Let those in governance decide," he told reporters in Thrissur. CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan intensified the criticism, saying the Congress had changed its position depending on political convenience. He pointed to earlier remarks made by Congress leaders on similar appointments in BJP-ruled states and called it a “clear double standard".
He also raised questions about Kelkar’s tenure as Chief Electoral Officer, alleging irregularities during the recent Assembly elections. When asked whether the appointment was part of any “deal", Govindan said that “everything will come out in the coming days". The BJP also attacked the move, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy and questioning the neutrality of the election process. Party leaders alleged that the appointment raised concerns about political favouritism. However, the Congress rejected the allegations, insisting there was no political angle to the decision. It said the government had full authority to appoint qualified officers to key administrative positions. Kelkar, a 2003-batch IAS officer, had supervised the recent Kerala Assembly election process as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer. Congress-led UDF had swept the polls, winning 102 of the 140 seats. A government order had earlier stated, “Rathan U Kelkar IAS (KL 2003), Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala and Secretary, Election Department, is transferred and posted as Secretary to the Chief Minister." (With inputs from PTI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Kerala, India, India First Published: May 24, 2026, 16:49 IST News india 'Double Standard': Congress Faces Heat Over Kerala Poll Chief's Appointment In CM Office Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.
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