Thiruvananthapuram: Known for his social media presence and unique outreach initiatives, IAS officer N Prashanth, famously called ‘Collector Bro,’ has been suspended on disciplinary grounds after publicly criticizing a senior colleague. Prashanth, a 2007-batch IAS officer with over 3 lakh Facebook followers and 50,000 on Instagram, accused Additional Chief Secretary A Jayathilak of being a “psychopath” and alleged that he orchestrated misleading reports against him. In response, the Kerala government suspended him, with Prashanth defending his stance by calling himself a whistleblower.
Who is ‘Collector Bro’?
Hailing from Thalassery in Kannur, Prashanth gained his nickname while serving as the Kozhikode district collector in 2015. His social media interactions and civic initiatives, such as rallying volunteers to clean a lake in exchange for Malabar biryani, earned him popularity. In his book Collector Bro: The Quixotic ‘Thallals’ of a Civil Servant, he reflects on his public service journey. He has held multiple roles, most recently as Special Secretary in the SC/ST Development Department.
Allegations and the Outburst
The recent controversy began with a report alleging that several files from the ‘Unnathi’ initiative for SC/ST welfare went missing during Prashanth’s tenure. He rejected the claims, accusing Jayathilak of deliberately spreading misinformation. Prashanth remarked that while criticism of government policies is unacceptable, his comments were directed at individuals allegedly engaging in unethical practices, stating, “I trust that creating fake reports is not a government policy.”
The suspension has stirred political tensions. Former Fisheries Minister and CPM leader J Mercykutty Amma accused Prashanth of conspiring against her with Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala in 2021. She alleged Prashanth signed a document regarding a deep-sea trawler deal that later fueled controversy. Chennithala’s alleged false claims about the Fisheries Department’s involvement became a focal point in the political landscape.
The Congress-led UDF has pointed to infighting among officers under the Left government, intensifying the political fallout from Prashanth’s suspension.
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