Thiruvananthapuram: In a continuing controversy following a report in Mathrubhumi, N. Prasanth, former Special Secretary of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Development Department, has escalated his criticism of Additional Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak. Prasanth, in a Facebook post, accused Jayathilak of being a “self-proclaimed next Chief Secretary.”

Prasanth also vowed to release proofs and documents to back his accusations against Jayathilak.

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This public exchange follows a Mathrubhumi report that highlighted allegations about important files related to welfare schemes for backward communities being missing. Jayathilak, in his official capacity, had submitted a report to the Chief Minister, which has now attracted Prasanth's criticism.

Deleted FB post

In his post, Prasanth referred to Jayathilak as the "real lunatic of Madampally," a reference to the iconic character from the Malayalam classic Manichithrathazhu. The remark quickly sparked controversy, and although the post was later deleted, it had already ignited a heated debate. Reports suggest that the controversy stemmed from the disappearance of crucial government files, particularly those related to welfare schemes for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which were allegedly inaccessible.

In response to a critical comment on social media, Prasanth lashed out at Jayathilak, asking, "How does he leak reports? Who are the intermediaries involved?" In another post, he referred to Jayathilak as a "genuine lunatic from Madampally," a phrase that led to further public debate.

Mathrubhumi report

Prasanth's criticism intensified following the Mathrubhumi report, which revealed that he had been absent from duty but had still signed the attendance register, an incident that was subsequently highlighted in the media.

Following these developments, Prasanth shared an image of Jayathilak on his Facebook page, along with a statement aimed at the senior bureaucrat. In the post, Prasanth expressed his displeasure at the Mathrubhumi report and suggested that Jayathilak had been leaking information to the media without proper consultation.

Public Outcry Mounts

The controversy over the missing files and the exchange between the two bureaucrats has intensified public and media scrutiny of the Kerala state administration. Prasanth, in response to the ongoing coverage, expressed his discomfort with the publication of sensitive government information but reiterated that his intention was only to clarify matters that had been misrepresented.

“The self-proclaimed ‘next Chief Secretary’ needs to be treated with due respect, but I can’t hold back the truth anymore,” Prasanth concluded.

As the row continues, the revelations surrounding the missing files, along with the dramatic exchange between the two senior bureaucrats, have brought the functioning of the Kerala state administration under intense scrutiny.