Kerala Government Faces Backlash Over 'Foreign Secretary' Appointment

The BJP criticized Kerala's LDF government for assigning an IAS officer to manage 'External Cooperation,' dubbing the role as a 'foreign secretary of the state.' The Chief Secretary clarified that the role was established for coordinating with foreign delegates and not an attempt to overstep federal boundaries.

Kerala's LDF government faced sharp criticism from the BJP on Saturday after appointing an IAS officer to oversee 'External Cooperation' matters. The move was described by BJP state president K Surendran as an attempt to create a 'foreign secretary of the state,' a claim firmly denied by the Chief Secretary.

Criticizing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Surendran said the state should not act as if it were an independent nation. Chief Secretary Venu V responded, emphasizing that the External Cooperation division was designed to facilitate coordination with foreign delegates visiting Kerala, not to encroach upon federal responsibilities.

Surendran's remarks were challenged by Venu, who posted on Facebook that the position had existed for some time and dismissed the notion that the state was appointing a foreign secretary. He asserted that the idea was aimed at better managing foreign interactions and not about engaging in formal diplomatic relations.