Former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, who resigned in protest against the Centre, joins Congress

New Delhi: Kannan Gopinathan, the Malayali IAS officer who resigned from civil services after levelling criticisms against the Central Government, has officially joined the Indian National Congress.

He accepted the party membership from AICC general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal.

Kannan, a 2012 batch IAS officer, hails from Kooroppada in Kottayam district, Kerala. Following his resignation, he remained active in various people’s movements, including protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal described Kannan Gopinathan as a courageous officer who has consistently stood with the marginalised and the underprivileged, and who has always fought for justice and unity.

"Kannan joining the Congress sends a clear message that the Congress is the only party fighting for justice with a well-defined ideology," Venugopal added.

"I resigned in 2019. Even then, it was evident to me that the direction in which the government was taking the country was wrong. I felt it was necessary to stand up against what was wrong. I travelled through 80–90 districts and spoke to the people. I met numerous leaders. It became clear to me that only the Congress party has the capacity to guide the country in the right direction," Kannan Gopinathan said after joining the Congress.