Sunny Joseph Defends Brother-in-Law's Appointment After Resignation Amid Nepotism Row

Kannur: Kerala Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph on Monday defended the appointment of his sister's husband as Additional Private Secretary, asserting that the posting was legally sound and that the resignation was a voluntary step taken solely to sidestep controversy.

Speaking to mediapersons in Iritty, the minister said that as soon as the appointment came to light, he had examined whether the individual was qualified or disqualified for inclusion in personal staff. "We found no disqualification," he stated, adding that everyone had urged Benny Thomas to continue in the post.

Sunny Joseph also said he needed someone with the competence and trustworthiness of Benny Thomas for the smooth functioning of the department, and that was the reason behind the appointment. He acknowledged that criticism had been raised at a KPCC meeting, but noted that the person who raised it subsequently withdrew the remarks.

Benny Thomas — the minister's brother-in-law — had resigned from the personal staff following sustained opposition protests against the nepotism charge, marking the first resignation from a ministerial staff since the UDF government assumed office just twenty days ago.

The minister had initially maintained silence on the controversy before moving to justify the appointment. CPI(M) State Secretariat member M V Jayarajan had earlier made public details of multiple appointments that relatives of Sunny Joseph had reportedly secured. The matter was also taken up at the KPCC Political Affairs Committee meeting held recently.