Kerala CM defends appointment of B. Ashok as Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran

Rejecting allegations by Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) leaders that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government was “facilitating the saffronization” of higher education in Kerala by lifting the suspension of IAS officer B. Ashok and appointing him as Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said political officers were not appointed.

“He faced disciplinary action and the suspension has now been lifted. We have very few IAS officers available in Kerala now as many have left for central services. Some are reluctant to return after compulsory service from Delhi. The government has handed over additional charges to many officers,” he said.

Regarding the appointment of a head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the Vice-Chancellor in charge of the Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) and the nomination of several pro-Sangh Parivar persons as members of its Senate, Mr. Satheesan said that Governor Rajendra Demokrat (RaLDF) had made such appointments during the previous Arlekar government.

“Did the governor suddenly start appointing people in universities only after we came to power? So many people were appointed in the syndicates. We have also seen the appointment of VCs. So it is nothing new. The Senate appointment panel should have been given by the LDF government. We will look into these matters,” he said.

On the scheme of PM SHRI

Mr. Satheesan said that the state government has not taken any decision yet to introduce the PM SHRI scheme.

“The previous government had signed the agreement. Before we take any decision, we have to study the legal obligations arising from it. We opposed the Prime Minister of SHRI because the previous government, which said it would never agree to the scheme, signed the agreement secretly without informing the cabinet,” he said.

After initially refusing to answer a question about his alleged trip in a chartered flight to meet an Adani Group official during the assembly elections, he said it was a personal meeting with an acquaintance who is related to the Congress leader.

Asked if the state government would consider cutting fuel taxes in view of the sharp rise in prices in recent weeks, he said: “We will see.”

On reports that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he had leveled allegations of a deal with the BJP against the LDF during the Assembly election campaign as per inputs given by Congress leaders from Kerala, Mr Satheesan said he was “not aware” of such a development.

Published – 10 Jun 2026 14:48 IST