Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has come out in strong defense of IAS officer Dr. Divya S Iyer, stating that the criticisms directed at her recent Instagram post are steeped in “deep-rooted male chauvinism.”
“As a government employee, she spoke her mind,” the Chief Minister said. “She is being criticised for expressing a viewpoint different from her husband’s political stance. Her innocence should be seen in that light.”
The controversy began after Divya, currently serving as Managing Director of Vizhinjam Port, praised her husband K K Ragesh in an Instagram post. Ragesh had recently stepped down as Chief Minister Vijayan’s private secretary to take up the post of CPM’s Kannur district secretary. In her post, Divya described him as a “hardworking person who treated officers with respect” and even likened his protection to something that would make “Karna jealous,” referring to the legendary figure from the Mahabharata.
The post sparked sharp criticism, particularly from the Youth Congress and several Congress leaders, who accused her of breaching the professional boundaries expected of a civil servant. Youth Congress Kannur district president Vijil Mohan even posted online, reminding her that her salary doesn’t come from the AKG Centre (CPM headquarters).
Adding to the tension, Divya’s husband and former Congress MLA K S Sabarinadhan publicly stated that while the post may have come from good intentions, it could have been avoided. “There is nothing wrong with a government officer appreciating policies or work done by the government. But praising a person who has taken up a political post is different,” he said, calling it an error in judgment.
Despite the backlash, senior Left leaders including E P Jayarajan and K K Shailaja rallied behind Divya, defending her right to express personal sentiments.
Meanwhile, Divya responded to the controversy by reflecting on the reactions she has faced: “I faced severe criticisms during the past one and a half years for revealing the qualities and goodness in some humans. Sometimes I wonder what a strange world is this.”
The issue has sparked a broader debate on freedom of expression for bureaucrats, gender bias, and the expectations placed on public servants in the age of social media.
