# D Sajith Babu appointed Kerala Chief Electoral Officer 2026-08-14T16:09:54+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet IAS officer Dr D Sajith Babu has been appointed Kerala’s new Chief Electoral Officer, succeeding Dr Rathan Kelkar. Babu was serving as Special Secretary in the General Education Department. The post had remained vacant for two months after Kelkar became the Chief Minister’s Secretary. The Election Commission of India approved the state government’s recommendation. Babu has served as Kasaragod District Collector, State Mission Director of the National AYUSH Mission, Supplyco Commissioner, Special Secretary in the Animal Husbandry Department and Registrar of Cooperative Societies. He holds a PhD in Agronomy from Kerala Agricultural University and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for his pandemic work as district collector. ## Coverage - english.mathrubhumi.com Tags: D Sajith Babu, Election Commission of India, Kerala, Rathan Kelkar Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/d-sajith-babu-appointed-kerala-chief-electoral-officer/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/d-sajith-babu-appointed-kerala-chief-electoral-officer/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.