CPI(M) Questions Motive Behind CEO's New Role

Kerala’s political temperature has climbed following the swift elevation of Chief Electoral Officer Dr. Ratan U. Kelkar to the post of Secretary to the Chief Minister. CPI(M) state secretariat members have described the timing as deeply troubling and suggestive of a quid-pro-quo arrangement. In a detailed statement, the party recalled multiple instances during the recent elections when the Election Commission appeared to favor the UDF, ranging from the handling of political advertisements to the sudden halt in adding new voters. These actions, CPI(M) says, compromised the level playing field essential for fair polls. The statement further highlights the exclusion of thousands of eligible voters through the SIR process and the denial of voting rights to election staff on duty. CPI(M) leaders insist these lapses cannot be dismissed as administrative oversights. Drawing a parallel with West Bengal, where Congress had earlier demanded safeguards against immediate post-election appointments, the party has challenged the opposition to apply the same standards in Kerala. It warns that any erosion of the Election Commission’s credibility will be firmly resisted.