Kerala Minister Sunny Joseph has defended the appointment of his brother-in-law, Benny Thomas, to his personal staff. He stated that there were no legal obstacles to the appointment and highlighted Benny’s dedication as a public worker with a strong political background. Responding to criticism, the Minister praised Benny Thomas as a leader who had previously been elected as a panchayat president with a significant majority, emphasizing his exemplary public service.
The controversy arose when the Minister’s sister’s husband was appointed to his personal staff, leading to accusations of nepotism from Left circles. Despite this, Sunny Joseph emphasized Benny’s extensive political experience, citing his roles in the Youth Congress, Congress Ullickal Mandalam President, DCC General Secretary, and Ullickal Grama Panchayat President. He dismissed claims of nepotism, stating that Benny Thomas could have been placed in another minister’s staff if that was the intention, rejecting any accusations of hypocrisy.
Moreover, the Minister clarified that Benny had previously served as his chief agent during the Assembly polls and had always openly acknowledged their relationship. The appointment of 13 members to the Minister’s personal staff also included Youth Congress leader Sudeep James, who had collaborated with Sunny Joseph during his tenure as KPCC president. Health Minister K. Muraleedharan supported the appointment, highlighting Benny Thomas’s longstanding involvement as a frontline Congress worker.
In response to criticism, Muraleedharan questioned the backlash against the appointment, noting that political leaders have historically appointed close relatives in similar capacities. He referenced instances where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had appointed his son-in-law as a minister without significant opposition. Muraleedharan pointed out that such appointments involving relatives have occurred in the past, including cases where ministers appointed family members to work in another minister’s office.
