Senior IAS officer of Kerala cadre, Ms Sarada Muraleedharan, an IAS officer of 1990 batch, is set to become the next Chief Secretary of Kerala, taking over from her husband, V Venu, also an IAS officer of the same batch, who is retiring on August 31. The state cabinet has cleared her appointment as the 49th Chief Secretary of Kerala.
Ms Muraleedharan, who is currently serving as the Additional Chief Secretary (Planning), will assume her new role as Chief Secretary following the decision by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, reportedly made during a recent cabinet meeting.
Ms Muraleedharan, a seasoned IAS officer like her husband, has an extensive career marked by significant positions across various departments.
Her previous roles include heading the Kudumbashree Mission, aimed at poverty eradication and women’s empowerment, from 2006 to 2012.
She has also served as the Chief Operating Officer at the National Rural Livelihoods Mission of the Ministry of Rural Development and as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
In addition, Muraleedharan has held the position of Director General at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), showcasing her diverse experience and contributions to both state and national governance.
At the Centre, she served as chief operating officer at National Rural Livelihoods Mission of the Ministry of Rural Development, India. She also served as joint secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and was responsible for conceptualising and promoting the Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
During her stint as Director General of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Sarada was instrumental in restructuring the curriculum, and anchoring several strategic projects. She also served as director of the Scheduled Caste Development, Social Welfare and Collegiate Education departments, among other posts.
The announcement has sparked a wave of interest and affection on social media, highlighted by a charming photograph of the couple.
Journalist Rajesh Abraham shared the heartwarming photo on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In his post, Abraham noted, “Sarada Muraleedharan succeeds husband V Venu as next Kerala Chief Secretary. Venu retires on August 31. Both are 1990 batch officers.”
The lighthearted exchange in the comments section of Abraham’s post included a user’s comment, “Passing the baton within the family itself,” to which the journalist replied, “Based on seniority.” Another user reacted with a thumbs-up emoticon, reflecting the positive reception of the news.
Sarada Muraleedharan succeeds husband V Venu as next Kerala chief secretary. Venu retires on August 31. Both are 1990 batch officers. pic.twitter.com/0kaCTH698W
— Rajesh Abraham🇮🇳 (@pendown) August 21, 2024
As the state prepares for this leadership transition, the move is being closely watched and warmly received, with many anticipating a seamless continuation of the administrative leadership under Muraleedharan’s stewardship.
