When Kerala’s new government took oath on May 4 at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the crowd was enormous — far more than the venue could hold. But the star of the day was not Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, or DK Shivakumar. The person who stole the show and took over social media was Dr K Vasuki IAS.

Vasuki was seen actively managing the ceremony, handing over files as the Governor administered the oath to Chief Minister VD Satheesan and his cabinet. Her composed presence and efficiency on stage made her an instant sensation, with people across social media asking: who is this officer?

For those who know Kerala’s bureaucracy, Vasuki is no stranger. She served as the District Collector of Thiruvananthapuram in 2017, long before this moment. Her career has been marked by visible impact in disaster management and public administration.

A doctor by training, Vasuki gave up her medical career to join the civil services in 2008. Born in Chennai to an ordinary family, she completed her MBBS from Madras Medical College. She realized that an IAS officer could serve the people more effectively than a doctor, and chose to enter the civil service. Initially assigned to the Madhya Pradesh cadre, she moved to the Kerala cadre in 2013 after her husband, Dr S Karthikeyan, also joined the civil services.

As District Collector of Thiruvananthapuram, her leadership during the 2018 Kerala floods was unforgettable. She coordinated relief operations and collection centres round the clock, earning widespread public admiration. At a relief concert, her speech in Tamil-accented Malayalam moved the audience deeply. Singer KS Chithra, Shashi Tharoor MP, and minister Kadakampally Surendran were among those present. “No matter what challenge comes, Kerala has shown it can face it. When that happens, give an applause for Kerala,” she told the crowd.

Vasuki had been serving as the Secretary of General Education before her recent appointment as the Secretary to the Governor. It was in this official capacity that she oversaw the swearing-in ceremony.

However, her prominence has also sparked political speculation. During the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Dr Divya S Iyer — daughter-in-law of late Congress veteran G Karthikeyan and wife of former MLA K S Sabarinathan — held significant influence. Divya, a close confidante of Pinarayi Vijayan, had been moved from Pathanamthitta Collector to head the Vizhinjam International Port project directly under the Chief Minister. She had publicly praised Pinarayi’s governance style, drawing criticism even from Congress ranks.

When VD Satheesan became Chief Minister, Divya was among the first to welcome him. This led some to speculate that Vasuki’s appointment as Governor’s Secretary was a move to check Divya’s influence. Whether true or not, Vasuki’s competence speaks for itself.