The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, against senior IAS officer B. Ashoka for allegedly violating the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and the Model Code of Conduct currently in force in the state.
The bureaucrat was accused of trying to influence voters and malign the LDF government through a magazine article and during a prime-time TV debate.
In his complaint, SFI State Secretary Sanjeev PS cited a recent article authored by Dr. Ashok, who is currently the principal secretary of the Sainik Welfare Department, in a Malayalam magazine, in which he is said to suggest that any government that remains in power for decades risks supporting fascism. He also stated that such trends must be resisted to preserve the integrity of democracy.
SFI argues that such remarks are not merely academic, but a deliberate attempt by an incumbent to influence voters and show a clear anti-government bias.
Besides, while participating in a debate on a news channel, the IAS officer allegedly made political statements regarding the current administration and sensitive issues like the Sabarimala issue.
The complaint emphasizes that while government employees are strictly required to maintain political neutrality, public statements by Dr. Ashoka and the ensuing debate on social media serves as a partisan critique to sway public opinion. The complainant also alleged that other officials faced suspension for posts on social media favoring the government, an open criticism of Dr. Ashoka has so far faced disciplinary action.
The SFÚ urged the Electoral Commission to initiate formal legal proceedings against the officer, otherwise the situation could lead to “administrative anarchy” and encourage other officials to disregard service rules.
Published – 29 March 2026 19:03 IST
