Not a separate country: BJP hits out at Kerala CM over appointment of foreign secretary

K Surendran, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government for designating IAS officer K Vasuki as the state's foreign secretary, calling it a "blatant overreach" and a breach of the Union List of the Constitution.

"In a post on 'X,' Surendran stated that the appointment of an IAS officer as 'Foreign Secretary' in Kerala by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is an obvious overreach and a breach of the Union list of our Constitution."  Declaring the action to be "unconstitutional," the leader of the BJP asked if he intended to create a "separate nation" out of Kerala. However, the Kerala government has handed Secretary K Vasuki of the Labor and Skills Department extra authority over subjects about external cooperation.

The appointment of an IAS officer as 'Foreign Secretary' in Kerala by CM Pinarayi Vijayan is a blatant overreach and a violation of the Union list of our Constitution. The LDF government has no mandate in foreign affairs. This unconstitutional move sets a dangerous precedent. Is…

— K Surendran (@surendranbjp) July 20, 2024

More on the case 

According to the directive, Vasuki would receive help in topics of external cooperation from the Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in the nation's capital, who will also communicate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Missions, and Embassies. "Until further arrangements are made, the General Administration (Political) Department will support Dr. K Vasuki IAS and handle matters of external cooperation. To communicate with the Ministry of External Affairs, missions, embassies, and other entities, the officer shall receive help in matters of external cooperation from the Resident Commissioner, Kerala House, New Delhi," the order stated.