Congress's Political Vendetta Against Divya S Iyer Over Innocent Compliment

Thiruvananthapuram: IAS officer Divya S Iyer has come under sharp attack from Congress leaders and supporters after she posted a congratulatory message for K. K. Ragesh, the newly appointed CPI(M) Kannur district secretary and former private secretary to the Chief Minister. Her post, which included a poetic flourish—“Even Karna would feel envious of this KKR shield!”—triggered a political storm, with the Congress accusing her of violating the civil service code of neutrality.
Leading the charge was Congress leader K. Muraleedharan, who launched a pointed and personal attack: “There are some civil service officers who serve at the feet of Pinarayi. The one who posted this is one such noblewoman,” he remarked, implying undue allegiance to the CPI(M) leadership.
Youth Congress Kannur Secretary Vijil Mohan echoed similar sentiments, writing on Facebook: “She draws her salary from the government, not from the AKG Centre,” and accusing Iyer of showing political favoritism under the pretense of professional appreciation.
The backlash wasn’t confined to political leaders. Congress-affiliated social media pages were flooded with personal and, at times, vitriolic comments targeting Divya S Iyer. Many Congress supporters accused her of compromising the political neutrality expected from civil servants. The criticism extended beyond her, with some dragging her husband, K.S. Sabarinadhan—a Congress leader and former MLA—into the controversy, along with references to his late father, senior Congress leader G. Karthikeyan. The attacks prompted Sabarinadhan to issue a public statement clarifying that Iyer’s message was a personal gesture, rooted in mutual professional respect, and not politically motivated.
Amidst the political heat, Divya Iyer stood her ground. In a video message posted on Instagram, she said, “It seems difficult and unnecessary to say something good about good people. For the past one and a half years, I have had to endure harsh criticism and bitter remarks—only because I chose to speak positively.”
K. K. Ragesh also came to her defense, saying, “She is being attacked for offering a kind word. This kind of cyber harassment is disgraceful and reflects a crude mindset.”
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the attacks, framing them as symptomatic of a deeply patriarchal mindset. “Divya S Iyer is being targeted simply because she expressed an independent opinion. Congress refuses to see her as an individual, instead judging her based on her husband’s politics,” he said.
He further added: “Expecting a woman to mirror her husband’s political views is not just outdated—it’s fundamentally misogynistic. Such archaic thinking has no place in a modern, democratic society.”
CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan also criticized the Congress’s response, calling it part of a broader pattern. “Whenever the Congress dislikes someone, they lash out, irrespective of context. Divya Iyer made a respectful and general remark. The outrage is entirely disproportionate,” he said.
This isn’t the first time Divya Iyer has been caught in political crossfire. In 2024, she faced similar criticism after congratulating CPI(M) leader K. Radhakrishnan on his Lok Sabha victory.
Currently serving as Cultural Director and Managing Director of Vizhinjam Port, Iyer has reiterated that her appreciation for Ragesh stems from her professional experience working with him in the Chief Minister’s Office. She maintains that her remarks were apolitical, rooted in professional admiration, and not intended to convey political support.