Thiruvananthapuram: With the appointment of K.K. Ragesh, Chief Minister's Private Secretary, as the CPM Kannur district secretary, discussions are now active regarding his replacement. Reports suggest that the CPM state secretariat has not yet finalised a successor to Ragesh. With just a year left before the elections, the role of the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary holds considerable importance. One question being raised is whether former Private Secretary M.V. Jayarajan will return to the position. If a political appointment is not made, those with experience in senior administrative roles will likely be considered.

During the first Pinarayi government, M.V. Jayarajan was serving as the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary when he was appointed as the CPM Kannur district secretary. This change in role occurred when P. Jayarajan contested the Lok Sabha elections from Vadakara. At that time, no political appointment was made in his place. Instead, former Income Tax Commissioner R. Mohanan was appointed as the Private Secretary. Since Puthalath Dineshan continued as Political Secretary, a senior official was chosen for the position.

When the second Pinarayi government assumed office, the CPM introduced a code of conduct for ministers' offices. It was decided that Private Secretaries to the Chief Minister and other ministers should be political appointees. Exceptions were made for departments like Finance and Industries. K.K. Ragesh became the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary under this policy. Later, when Puthalath Dineshan became a member of the state secretariat and took over as editor of Deshabhimani, P. Sasi was appointed as Political Secretary.

The party generally avoids appointing state secretariat members to ministers' offices. M.V. Jayarajan's earlier effective work in the Chief Minister’s Office and his good rapport with the media increases the likelihood of his return. Another possible candidate is P. Sasi, who may be given the role of Private Secretary.

If the party opts for someone with administrative experience, former Chief Secretary K Venu is reportedly a strong contender. However, there are concerns about the propriety of someone who held the Chief Secretary position returning as a Private Secretary. If Venu is not chosen, former Private Secretary R. Mohanan may make a comeback.

Former Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham currently serves in the Chief Minister’s Office with cabinet rank, holding the post of Chief Principal Secretary with special responsibilities.

Generational shift in Kannur

Kannur: With K.K. Ragesh succeeding M.V. Jayarajan as the district secretary, the CPI(M) leadership in Kannur has undergone a generational shift. The appointment also signals Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s continuing influence in this CPI(M) stronghold. The name of K.K. Ragesh was proposed by M.V. Jayarajan during the district committee meeting chaired by M. Prakash. A 12-member district secretariat was also elected during the session.

Ragesh, who entered politics through the Students Federation of India (SFI), was the first Malayali to become its All India General Secretary. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Kerala in 2015. He played a leading role in the protests against the farm bills. For his efforts to protect the rights of children and students, he received the Parliamentary Group for Children Award in 2020. Following the formation of the second Pinarayi government in 2021, he was appointed as the Chief Minister's Private Secretary.

Born on 13 May 1970 to C. Sreedharan and K.K. Yashoda in Kanjirath, Ragesh holds a postgraduate degree in English literature and a law degree. He has also authored a book titled Swashraya Niyamam: Pratheekshayum Prathirodhavum (“The Self-Financing Law: Hope and Resistance”). His wife, Priya Varghese, is a Malayalam lecturer at the Neeleswaram campus of Kannur University. The couple has two daughters, Sharika and Charutha.