THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: B Ashok, who was engaged in a heated argument with the ruling party union, has been transferred from the post of KSEB chairman. Rajan N Khobragade will take charge as the new chairman of the KSEB.

B Ashok has been appointed as the secretary of the agriculture department. There was intense pressure on the government to transfer Ashok from the chairman post, following his dispute with the unions. The transfer comes ahead of him completing one year as the KSEB chairman, on Friday.

Earlier, the KSEB Officers’ Association had been of the position that they would not back down from the strike unless the chairman was transferred. Talks were held several times, but to no avail.

On the next day after the final round of talks, Ashok had charged a fine against association president M G Suresh Kumar for using a vehicle illegally. The association temporarily called off the strike, as a prolonged strike could backfire. The high court’s intervention had also led to the end of the strike.