Nalini Netto, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan, resigned from her post on Tuesday.
Her resignation came amidst rumours that the veteran bureaucrat had 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 1981 batch IAS officer, had served as Chief Secretary under the Pinarayi Vijayan government.
After retirement, Mr. Vijayan immediately appointed her as his Principal Secretary in 2016.
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.