B Ashok, N Prasanth get key departments under CM V D Satheesan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IAS officers Dr B. Ashok and N. Prashanth, who had publicly criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan government, have been assigned key departments under Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan.

B. Ashok, who is the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department, has been given full additional charge of the Public Administration Department and the Department of Administrative Reforms. K. Biju, son of former minister K. Krishnankutty, was serving as the Public Administration Secretary, while T. V. Anupama was the Special Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms. Biju will continue to hold the charge of the Forest Department, while Anupama will continue in the Transport Department.

N. Prasanth, Special Secretary of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, has been given the full additional charge of Special Secretary of the Taxes Department. Prasanth had earlier submitted a Sports Department report regarding alleged tax evasion in connection with the visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team. The matter is currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

K.R. Jyothilal will continue to hold the additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary, Taxes Department. Meanwhile, Finance Resources Secretary Patil Ajit Bhagwat Rao has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KIIFB. Dr K. M. Abraham had resigned as KIIFB CEO following the change of government.