Thiruvananthapuram: Former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan on Wednesday alleged that the Centre has refused to process his resignation for over six years, preventing him from contesting the Kerala Assembly elections.

Gopinathan, who stepped down from the service in 2019 citing the “denial of freedom of expression” to people in Kashmir, said the delay had effectively stalled both his professional and political plans.

Allegation of prolonged delay

In a post on X, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he described the situation as deliberate harassment.

"This is pure harassment and nothing else."

"Dear PM @narendramodi, just wanted to bring to your attention that your government has refused to process my resignation for 6.5 years. No salary and no release. This has stopped me from professionally moving on. And has also prevented me from contesting elections in Kerala," he said in the post.

Political move and electoral barrier

Gopinathan had joined the Indian National Congress in October last year, stating that the party alone could steer the country in the right direction.

He said the pending resignation had now become a direct obstacle to entering electoral politics in Kerala.

‘Right to resign’ and democratic participation

Explaining why he had not raised the matter earlier, Gopinathan said he was aware of the hardships faced by millions under the NDA rule.

"But blocking my right to resign and take part in the democratic process is pathetic and petty, whatever my political position is. Stop this pettiness and direct your lethargic government to process my resignation immediately," he said.

Gopinathan, who was born in Kerala, maintained that the issue now directly affects his ability to participate in the democratic process. PTI