Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kozhikode North MLA A. Pradeep Kumar has been appointed as the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. An official order to this effect was issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.

Pradeep Kumar succeeds K.K. Ragesh, who vacated the post following his election as the CPM Kannur District Secretary. Pradeep Kumar currently serves as a member of the CPM State Committee.

With just one year remaining in the current government's term, deliberations were held on whether the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary should be a party representative or a bureaucrat. Ultimately, the party decided to appoint a leader with political experience, reflecting the consensus that someone with a strong political background would be best suited to steer the Chief Minister’s Office during this critical final phase of the administration.

Responding to the development, Pradeep Kumar said the appointment as the private secretary to the Chief Minister is a "significant responsibility".

"I have been keeping away from parliamentary politics for some time, and now delivering my duties as a party man. The new responsibility came as part of that," he told reporters here.

He also said he would try his best to fulfil the entrusted responsibilities remarkably.

Kumar entered politics as an activist of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the students' wing of the CPI(M), during 1980s.

He was a member of 12th, 13th and 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly from Kozhikode (North) constituency.