Chennai, May 13:
Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil on Tuesday raised questions over the reported appointment of an “astrologer” as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) by the ruling TVK government in Tamil Nadu.
The former IAS officer took to social media platform X to repost a letter that has been circulating online, which purportedly appoints Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay with immediate effect. The authenticity of the letter, dated May 12, has not yet been officially confirmed.
Reacting sharply, Senthil questioned the rationale behind such an appointment. “Beats me. Why would an astrologer require an OSD position?? Can anyone explain?” he wrote, triggering a wider debate on social media.
The development comes amid heightened political scrutiny of administrative decisions taken by the government, with opposition leaders seeking clarity on the nature and necessity of such roles. The viral document has further fuelled speculation, though there has been no formal statement from the government confirming or denying the appointment.
With the issue gaining traction online, political observers note that the controversy could intensify if official clarification is delayed, especially given the sensitivities surrounding governance standards and public appointments.