Nalini Netto, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan, resigned from her post on Tuesday. She is a 1981 batch IAS officer and had earlier served as Chief Secretary. After retirement, she was appointed the CM's PS.

 

Her resignation has triggered rumors about her severe differences with certain political appointees in the CM’s office.

 

However, government sources said that Ms. Netto had sought permission to resign much earlier citing personal reasons.

 

Her resignation comes close on the heels of M.V. Jayarajan quitting his post as private secretary to the Chief Minister to assume charge as district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kannur.

 

Ms. Netto, a high profile civil servant, had served as the first woman Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala. She oversaw two Legislative Assembly elections and one Lok Sabha poll.