Kerala Governor gives assent to Seshadrinathan’s appointment as State Election Commissioner

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, accepted the recommendation of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government to appoint Irinjlakuda Family Court judge N. Seshadrinathan as Kerala State Election Commissioner (SEC).

The government had come under fire from within the Congress and also from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for nominating an alleged “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) fellow traveler” for the post.

The open rebellion of Chief Minister Niyas, general secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, against Mr. Seshadrinathan’s candidature appeared to be in vain; The cabinet refused to reverse the decision on the advice of Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGI) Minister K M Shaji.

Mr Niyas had petitioned Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to allow an intelligence investigation into Mr Seshadrinathan’s political background. His vociferous appeal went viral on social and conservative media, giving the CPI(M) ammunition to accuse the government of capitulating to the Sangh Parivar.

CPI(M) Minister of State MV Govindan alleged that the UDF’s decision to nominate him for the post was a covert attempt to boost the electoral chances of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also cited it as the latest indication of Chief Minister VD Satheesan’s “shift to the right”.