Despite criticism from some Congress leaders, Kerala IAS official Divya S. Iyer firmly praised CPI (M) leaders and former chief minister’s private secretary KK Ragesh in her social media post. Iyer is currently a MD of Vizhinjam International Seaport and the wife of Congress leader KS Sabarinadhan, who describes Ragesh as a “loyal textbook” and a “hard-working ink well.”
The comment triggered a rebound in the Congressional District, with former Congressman K Muraleedharan accusing her of flattering her and accusing civil servants like her of being “slavery” to CM Pinarayi Vijayan. However, CM Vijayan defended her, calling the criticism a “reflection of patriarchal thought” and praised Al’s independence.
Iyer said in a video reply that she was just a virtue observed among others during her service, questioning the strong opposition to doing so. Opposition leader VD Satheesan avoids attacking her, and the episode sparks a wider debate on gender, politics and bureaucratic neutrality in Kerala.
