Venu Rajamony (Retd.IFS:1986), who was serving as the Kerala government’s Officer on Special Duty (External cooperation) in Delhi, has resigned from his post. Sources indicate that a conflict with the top brass of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the state played a role in his unexpected departure. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister on Friday, Venu declined the two-week extension offered to him, which was initially set until September 30, and instead requested to be relieved of his duties starting the following day.
Although there was previous speculation that Venu might be assigned other responsibilities, it has come to light that the Chief Minister’s Office opted to terminate his services. The Chief Minister personally communicated this decision to Venu.
In his letter, Venu explained that the two-week extension had been granted to him to address a specific official matter. However, since that matter was no longer relevant, he saw no reason to continue in the position for the remaining two weeks.
Sources close to the government revealed that the IAS top officials in the state were dissatisfied with Venu’s role and his approach to his responsibilities. It is said that they expressed their discontent to the government, which ultimately led to this outcome.
Venu’s tenure had been extended by two weeks, initially until September 30, due to the Chief Minister’s proposed visit to Vietnam earlier in the month. However, the travel plans did not materialize, and the state government subsequently canceled the visit, which in turn led to Venu’s departure.
Rajamony’s initial appointment took place in September 2021 when the state government enlisted his services following his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). His tenure was extended for a second term the following year. In his role, Rajamony held the rank of Chief Secretary, with responsibilities including liaising with the Ministry of External Affairs, managing relations with Indian and foreign diplomatic missions, and exploring opportunities for collaboration with other countries in the fields of education, culture, finance, and investment.
During his tenure, Rajamony played a pivotal role in significant initiatives, including facilitating the safe return of students from Ukraine and inaugurating direct flights between Kochi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He also facilitated meetings between the Chief Minister and diplomats from various foreign countries and coordinated the Chief Minister’s official visits to Norway, the UK, the US, and Cuba.
It’s worth noting that during his illustrious 34-year diplomatic career, Rajamony served in various key roles. He held the position of Consul General of India in Dubai, served as Joint Secretary responsible for managing World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance to Kerala, acted as Press Secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Raisina Hills, and held the esteemed position of Ambassador of India to the Netherlands.
