Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday defended the appointment of Rathan Kelkar, saying the controversy around him was unfounded and that he was chosen for his efficiency and past administrative experience. Speaking after the Cabinet meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on May 25, 2026, Satheesan said the state government typically submits a panel for appointing the Chief Electoral Officer and argued that such appointments do not end with an election. He also noted that former Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto later worked in the Chief Minister’s Office, using that as an example to counter criticism. Satheesan said Kerala could not be compared with West Bengal, where there had been complaints about large-scale voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision process, and added that no political party in Kerala had raised similar complaints against the state’s Chief Electoral Officer. He questioned the political significance of Kelkar’s role, saying the UDF’s electoral success could not be attributed to him and that larger issues concerning the state’s future should be discussed instead.
On other matters, the Chief Minister said the government was concerned after witnessing the eviction protest at Malayidamthuruthu. He pointed out that two former Cabinet ministers had been present there and said officials had visited the site 14 times during the previous government’s tenure to attempt eviction. He said the present government would not allow affected people to be pushed onto the streets and would protect them. Satheesan also responded to criticism over his Guruvayur temple visit, saying it was not the first time a Chief Minister had visited the shrine, that he had gone with only four others, bought his own ticket for darshan, and faced no obstruction. He dismissed allegations about the visit as false and said no one should now claim he should not enter the temple.
The Chief Minister further said the government would study the recent fuel price increase before deciding on any relief measures. He promised that land laws would be amended where necessary without causing hardship to the public and said the government would soon announce who would be given charge of the elderly welfare department, which he said was currently under the Chief Minister’s control. He also said tax evasion would be dealt with strictly.
In the Cabinet, the government approved the Governor’s policy address and decided to appoint Apu John Joseph as Legislative Chief Whip. Advocate K.C. Vincent will serve as Additional Advocate General. The administration also began monsoon preparedness measures, and district collectors will hold an online review meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the steps.
