Minister Sunny Joseph appoints brother-in-law as additional private secretary; controversy erupts

KANNUR: Controversy erupted over the appointment of a close relative to Minister Sunny Joseph's personal staff. The minister's brother-in-law and Kannur District Congress Committee General Secretary, Benny Thomas, was appointed as the additional private secretary.

The issue came into discussion after the list of the minister's personal staff members was released on Tuesday. 13 people, including two additional private secretaries, have been included in the minister's staff. The UDF, which had strongly criticised the appointment of relatives in the offices of ministers during the LDF government, ended up committing the same 'wrong' which they fought against.

Meanwhile, the Congress leadership and the minister's office explained that Benny Thomas' appointment was not based on kinship, but after considering his long-term political experience and organisational skills.