A day after his appointment as Secretary to the Chief Minister sparked political debate, Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rathan U Kelkar formally assumed the role on Sunday. The 2003-batch IAS officer had overseen the electoral roll revision and Assembly elections. Unlike in West Bengal, Kerala saw limited controversy over the revision process. Kelkar met party representatives regularly and conducted field assessments during his tenure as CEO since December 2024.
The appointment drew criticism from the Opposition, who questioned its appropriateness. References were made to a similar case in West Bengal involving Rahul Gandhi’s earlier remarks. Both the CPI(M) and BJP called for clarification on those comments.
Kelkar first gained attention in 2007 as sub-collector in Idukki, leading efforts against illegal constructions. Over two decades, he worked mainly in health and IT, serving as director of the National Rural Health Mission and State IT Mission. He was named best district collector in Kannur in 2012 and led the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he helped shape Kerala’s response strategy as National Health Mission director. He later worked in Karnataka on deputation from 2016 to 2019 in health projects. From 2022 to 2024, he served as Electronics and IT Secretary, advancing e-governance initiatives.
