A political controversy erupted in Kerala on Saturday (May 23) after the newly elected UDF government appointed State Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar as Secretary to Chief Minister V D Satheesan.&nbsp;According to the government order, “Dr Rathan U Kelkar, IAS (KL 2003), Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala &amp; Secretary, Election Department, is transferred and posted as Secretary to the Chief Minister.”&nbsp;The appointment triggered sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of hypocrisy and linked the move to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s earlier remarks on the independence of the Election Commission.&nbsp;The BJP pointed out that Rahul Gandhi had earlier criticised the appointment of West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal as Chief Secretary under the BJP government.&nbsp;Kerala BJP, in a Facebook post, said, “Ratan Kelkar, the former Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, has been appointed as the Secretary to Chief Minister VD Satheesan. According to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's logic, Ratan Kelkar's appointment is to be seen as a reward for the huge victory achieved by the Congress in Kerala. The Congress should stop this kind of politics that is misleading the people.”&nbsp;BJP leader Amit Malviya also attacked the Congress over the appointment and accused Rahul Gandhi of selective criticism.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-there-is-chance-iran-will-accept-a-deal-to-end-war-as-soon-as-today-says-marco-rubio-1779546574416">‘There is chance Iran will accept a deal to end war as soon as today,’ says Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;“Rahul Gandhi's selective outrage stands exposed yet again,” Malviya wrote on X.He further said, “Now compare that with Congress-ruled Kerala. Ratan U Kelkar, a 2003-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer who is not even the senior-most officer in the state, is being appointed Secretary to Chief Minister V D Satheean while continuing as Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer, a position that demands institutional neutrality and independence.”&nbsp;The controversy comes days after the Congress-led UDF registered a massive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections by winning 102 seats, with Congress alone securing 63 seats.

The BJP cited Rahul Gandhi’s earlier criticism of the BJP government in West Bengal over the appointment of then Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal as Chief Secretary, and accused the Congress of adopting double standards in Kerala

A political controversy erupted in Kerala on Saturday (May 23) after the newly elected UDF government appointed State Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar as Secretary to Chief Minister V D Satheesan. According to the government order, “Dr Rathan U Kelkar, IAS (KL 2003), Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala & Secretary, Election Department, is transferred and posted as Secretary to the Chief Minister.” The appointment triggered sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of hypocrisy and linked the move to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s earlier remarks on the independence of the Election Commission. The BJP pointed out that Rahul Gandhi had earlier criticised the appointment of West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal as Chief Secretary under the BJP government. Kerala BJP, in a Facebook post, said, “Ratan Kelkar, the former Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, has been appointed as the Secretary to Chief Minister VD Satheesan. According to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's logic, Ratan Kelkar's appointment is to be seen as a reward for the huge victory achieved by the Congress in Kerala. The Congress should stop this kind of politics that is misleading the people.” BJP leader Amit Malviya also attacked the Congress over the appointment and accused Rahul Gandhi of selective criticism. Also Read: ‘There is chance Iran will accept a deal to end war as soon as today,’ says Marco Rubio “Rahul Gandhi's selective outrage stands exposed yet again,” Malviya wrote on X. He further said, “Now compare that with Congress-ruled Kerala. Ratan U Kelkar, a 2003-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer who is not even the senior-most officer in the state, is being appointed Secretary to Chief Minister V D Satheean while continuing as Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer, a position that demands institutional neutrality and independence.” The controversy comes days after the Congress-led UDF registered a massive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections by winning 102 seats, with Congress alone securing 63 seats.

The BJP cited Rahul Gandhi’s earlier criticism of the BJP government in West Bengal over the appointment of then Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal as Chief Secretary, and accused the Congress of adopting double standards in Kerala

Kerala Chief Electoral Officer named CM secretary; BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy

Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday (May 18), leading the United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power in the state after a decade. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of senior Congress leaders, alliance partners and thousands of supporters. Satheesan took the oath along with his full Council of Ministers, marking the first time in nearly six decades that the entire Cabinet was sworn in simultaneously with the Chief Minister.&nbsp;The 21-member UDF government includes senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph. Leaders from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), including PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Samsudheen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor, also took oath as ministers. Other ministers inducted into the Cabinet are Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, T Siddique, PC Vishnunath, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, M Liju, KA Thulasi and OJ Janeesh.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbse-reduces-revaluation-fees-to-rs-100-after-row-over-digital-evaluation-process-1779026255978">CBSE reduces revaluation fees to Rs 100 after row over evaluation process</a>&nbsp;Speaking earlier, Satheesan had said that several deserving leaders could not be accommodated in the ministry because of political and social considerations. The government formation process was completed within 24 hours after consultations with coalition partners and Congress leadership. Satheesan had formally handed over the list of ministers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Sunday evening. Satheesan, who served as the Leader of the Opposition for the past five years, is widely credited within the Congress for rebuilding the party’s grassroots presence in Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-sweden-welcomed-by-pm-kristersson-at-airport-talks-to-focus-on-trade-technology-and-defence-1779023803251">PM Modi lands in Sweden, received by PM Kristersson at airport ahead of talks</a>&nbsp;The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections with 63 seats, while the UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, ending the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front’s 10-year rule in the state.

VD Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala’s Chief Minister, leading the UDF to power with 102 seats. A historic 21-member Cabinet took oath simultaneously, ending a decade of LDF rule.

Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday (May 18), leading the United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power in the state after a decade. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of senior Congress leaders, alliance partners and thousands of supporters. Satheesan took the oath along with his full Council of Ministers, marking the first time in nearly six decades that the entire Cabinet was sworn in simultaneously with the Chief Minister. The 21-member UDF government includes senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph. Leaders from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), including PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Samsudheen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor, also took oath as ministers. Other ministers inducted into the Cabinet are Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, T Siddique, PC Vishnunath, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, M Liju, KA Thulasi and OJ Janeesh. Also read: CBSE reduces revaluation fees to Rs 100 after row over evaluation process Speaking earlier, Satheesan had said that several deserving leaders could not be accommodated in the ministry because of political and social considerations. The government formation process was completed within 24 hours after consultations with coalition partners and Congress leadership. Satheesan had formally handed over the list of ministers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Sunday evening. Satheesan, who served as the Leader of the Opposition for the past five years, is widely credited within the Congress for rebuilding the party’s grassroots presence in Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections. Also read: PM Modi lands in Sweden, received by PM Kristersson at airport ahead of talks The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections with 63 seats, while the UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, ending the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front’s 10-year rule in the state.

VD Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala’s Chief Minister, leading the UDF to power with 102 seats. A historic 21-member Cabinet took oath simultaneously, ending a decade of LDF rule.

VD Satheesan sworn in as Kerala CM, UDF back in power after a decade

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Kerala Chief Electoral Officer named CM secretary; BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy

VD Satheesan sworn in as Kerala CM, UDF back in power after a decade