Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned athlete Mercy Kuttan on Monday stepped down from the Kerala State Sports Council President post.  Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman accepted her resignation. Apart from Mercy Kuttan standing committee members too have resigned. Former international football player U Sharaf Ali would become the next president of the council, the announcement came. The development apparently comes in the wake of internal issues in the council. 

The government reportedly had sought the resignations of Mercy Kuttan and others concerned after the CPM state secretariat held on Saturday. Vice-president OK Vineesh, committee members George Thomas, IM Vijayan and Rafeeq and Olympic Association members V Sunilkumar, S Rajeev and MR Ranjith were the ones asked to step down.

Mercy Kuttan was appointed in 2019 when PT Dasan vacated office. She had tenure until April 2024. There has been a difference of opinion between Mercy Kuttan and sports minister V Abdurahiman lately.