Malayalis may get key role in PMO

When Narendra Modi takes over as Prime Minister, a few Malayali officers are expected to join the PMO. Prominent among them is Thrissur native Kuniyil Kailashnathan, known as KK, a 1979batch Gujarat cadre retired bureaucrat, who has been advising Mr Modi on his political strategies.

He is slated to become the principal secretary to the Prime Minister. Another key IPS officer is Mr Manoj Sasidhar, Ernakulam native and joint police commissioner of Ahmedabad, who is likely to be in charge of the PM’s security along with the SPG.

KK is currently serving as chief principal secretary to Mr Modi in the Gujarat secretariat. Prior to that he had served as additional chief secretary of the Gujarat government. He retired in May 2013 but was re- employed in Mr Modi’s office. BJP sources told this newspaper that it was Mr Modi’s strategy to make forays into South Indian states where the BJP had limited presence.

A native of Kozhikode, KK married from Thrissur, holds double masters in chemistry from the then University of Madras and economics from the University of Wales. KK held key posts and showed his leadership acumen as municipal commissioner of Ahmedabad, managing director of Gujarat State Financial Services Ltd and initiated drinking water pipelines across the state.

He was also CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board and many more.

Former bureaucrat and BJP national executive member Alphonse Kannanthanam and KK belonged to the same IAS batch.