Rathan Kelkar takes charge as Kerala CM’s Secretary amid Opposition backlash  

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dr. Rathan U. Kelkar, IAS, has officially assumed charge as Secretary to Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan. Stepping into the role over a weekend holiday, Kelkar's rapid transition has triggered a fierce political storm, with the opposition raising serious allegations of bias regarding the conduct of the recently concluded Assembly elections.

Dr. Kelkar, a 2003-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer and medical graduate, had been serving as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) since December 4, 2024. Because the critical state elections were held under his direct supervision, his swift appointment to the Chief Minister’s office has drawn sharp criticism across social media and political circles.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fiercely opposed the move. CPM State Secretary M. V. Govindan drew parallels between this appointment and controversial bureaucratic shifts in West Bengal, demanding a thorough investigation into what he termed an underlying "deal." Senior CPM leader P. Rajeev echoed these concerns, with Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders alleging that the key bureaucratic post was handed out as a political favour—a "reward" for allegedly favouring the United Democratic Front (UDF) during the election cycle.

Defending the administration's decision, Minister and KPCC President Sunny Joseph dismissed the political allegations, stating that the appointment was based entirely on administrative merit. Sunny Joseph emphasised that Dr. Kelkar is an exceptionally capable officer with a clean track record and that no political motives should be attributed to the routine bureaucratic placement.

Originally a native of Karnataka, Dr. Kelkar boasts an extensive administrative career in Kerala. He has previously served as the Health Department Secretary, State Mission Director for the National Health Mission, and Chairman of Infopark, alongside holding the post of District Collector across multiple districts. Notably, he was honored with the State Government’s Best Collector Award in 2013 during his tenure in Kannur.