Government cancels appointment Minister’s relative as MD of KSIE

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has cancelled the appointment of P. K. Sudheer, son of CPI (M) Member of Parliament P. K. Sreemathi, as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), after the appointment sparked a controversy.

Sudheer is also the nephew of Industries Minister E. P. Jayarajan.  KSIE is under Industries Department.

Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan said that he did not know of the appointment while BJP leader V. Muraleedharan alleged that it was a party decision and not just that of Mr. Jayarajan.

An official release said that Mr. Sudheer was one of the applicants for the Managing Director’s post. He was a degree holder and Chief Executive Officer of a major establishment. He was given the order of appointment in view of his qualification.

However, Mr. Sudheer had given a letter to the private secretary of the Industries Minister seeking more time to join.  As a decision was taken against granting more time, the appointment was cancelled on October 3, it said.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the party had decided to appoint more relatives of party leaders to key posts.