3 min readThiruvananthapuramMay 24, 2026 07:17 AM ISTKerala’s Chief Electoral Officer Rathan KelkarOpposition CPI(M) Saturday slammed the appointment of Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rathan U Kelkar as secretary to Chief Minister V D Satheesan, saying the posting raises questions over the credibility of the election process.Last week, when West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal was appointed the chief secretary of the state, Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had said in an X post, “In the BJP-EC’s ‘chor bazaar’, the bigger the theft, the bigger the reward.”Referring to Rahul’s “BJP-EC chor bazaar” remark, the CPI(M) and BJP in Kerala asked the Congress leader to clarify whether he holds the same position on the appointment of Kelkar as secretary to the Congress chief minister in Kerala.Senior BJP leader K Surendran, in an X post, said: “When BJP appoints former West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal as Chief Secretary, Rahul Gandhi screams: ‘The bigger the theft, the bigger the reward.’ But exactly 10 days later, the Congress government in Keralam led by V D Satheesan appointed Keralam CEO Rathan Kelkar as Secretary. So, Rahul ji, what happened in Keralam, is it still ‘reward for theft’ or suddenly the beauty of democracy?”Former minister and CPI(M) central committee member P Rajeev told the media that when the ECI appoints an officer as the chief electoral officer of a state, the officer is relieved of all other responsibilities. “Normally there should be at least a cooling period to ensure the credibility of the election process. When the CEO suddenly becomes the secretary to the chief minister, it is a matter of grave concern. Congress national leadership and Rahul Gandhi, who criticised the appointment of the CEO as the chief secretary in West Bengal, should clarify whether they have a similar view on the Kerala posting,” he said.The CPI(M) state secretariat said in a statement that Kerala had never before seen such a posting made so soon after an election, and it appeared to be a reward for favours rendered. It said this substantiated the LDF’s allegation that the Election Commission had adopted partisan and suspicious actions in favour of the UDF during the elections.The CPI(M) said lakhs of votes had been removed in Kerala under the guise of SIR. The Left had earlier opposed the EC’s action of deleting genuine voters from the list while retaining ineligible names on the rolls. The office of the chief electoral officer in Kerala had already courted controversy by sending an ECI letter bearing the Kerala BJP office seal. At a time when the BJP-led Union government is trying to undermine the neutrality of the Election Commission, a Congress-led state government is also making similar interventions, it said.Story continues below this adSenior Congress leader and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the appointment of Kelkar as secretary to the chief minister was within the powers of the state government. “He is a good officer and the government has the authority to recall him. There is nothing unusual in it,” he said.Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...AdvertisementLive BlogUPSC CSE Prelims 2026 LIVE Updates: Important documents to carry, list of prohibited items16 minutes agoWhite House Shooting Live Updates: Suspect killed after firing at Secret Service checkpoint outside White House, officials say30 minutes agoIPL 2026 LSG vs PBKS Highlights: Shreyas Iyer scores maiden century, keeps Punjab in playoff race7 hours agoKCET Result 2026 Live Updates: How to check KEA UGCET results at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in?14 hours agoSRH vs RCB, IPL 2026 Highlights: Bengaluru cement top spot, Sunrisers to finish third1 day ago