Thiruvananthapuram: A fresh wave of discontent is sweeping through the Kerala Secretariat, with allegations surfacing that the interests of Chief Principal Secretary K.M. Abraham are overriding Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s executive decisions.
The spark for the latest controversy is the Cabinet’s decision to grant a one-year extension to retired IAS officer Dr. Usha Titus as the Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) of ASAP Kerala (Additional Skill Acquisition Programme).
The “Seven-Year” Post-Retirement Reign
Dr. Usha Titus retired from active service in January 2021. In a move that raised eyebrows at the time, she was appointed to the helm of ASAP the very next day after her retirement – on the strong recommendation of K.M. Abraham.
With the latest extension pushing her tenure until January 31, 2027, Dr. Titus is set to complete a total of seven years in high-ranking positions post-retirement.
”Abraham Cabinet, Not Pinarayi Cabinet”
The decision has not sat well with the serving IAS cadre. The sentiment within the bureaucracy is turning increasingly cynical, with many feeling that merit and seniority among active officers are being sidelined to favor a “chosen few.”
”The Pinarayi Cabinet exists only in name; it is effectively the ‘Abraham Cabinet,'” a senior IAS officer remarked sarcastically, requesting anonymity.
Critics argue that repeatedly reappointing retired favorites demoralizes efficient, serving officers and creates a bottleneck in the administrative hierarchy.
Political Winds and Bureaucratic Anxiety
As talks of a potential political shift in the state gain momentum, those on re-employment contracts are reportedly feeling the heat. Many serving officers are pinning their hopes on a change in government, believing that a UDF administration led by V.D. Satheesan would immediately revoke such controversial re-appointments and restore traditional bureaucratic protocols.
