KOLLAM: Kerala's administrative circles are embroiled in controversy as junior IAS officer N. Prashanth openly alleged via social media that a report accusing him of dereliction of duty had been fabricated. According to Prashanth, the report was orchestrated by Additional Chief Secretary Jayathilak, whom he criticized harshly, even mocking the senior officer as “a madman.”

The matter took a political turn when CPM leader and former Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma condemned Prashanth in strong language. In a lengthy Facebook post, Mercykutty Amma accused Prashanth of masterminding a political conspiracy around the contentious approval of deep-sea fishing contract during her tenure.

Mercykutty Amma claimed that the controversy over deep-sea contract was part of a scheme to secure coastal areas for the UDF. She recounted events from February 2021, when the then-Leader of Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala, alleged that a Rs 5,000 crore MoU was signed between the Fisheries Department and EMCC International for deep-sea fishing. Mercykutty Amma clarified that the MoU was instead signed by the KSINC, where Prashanth served as the Managing Director and had no involvement from the Fisheries Department.

According to Mercykutty Amma, the allegations stemmed from a script orchestrated by Prashanth and Chennithala, whom she alleged conspired to influence voters and tarnish her credibility. She claimed the campaign falsely depicted her as selling out the state’s marine resources, creating widespread controversy ahead of the 2021 elections.

Mercykutty Amma argued that the plot targeted her support among coastal constituencies and was promoted by political rivals who, despite their efforts, saw the LDF win a significant majority in coastal areas. The only exception, she noted, was the Kollam Diocese, which supported the opposition.

In her post, Mercykutty Amma alleged that Prashanth has continuously operated as an agent for political figures in the UDF and accused him of deceit and fraudulent behavior. She expressed confidence that the truth will prevail, asserting that this controversy is rooted in political motives rather than factual events.