India, April 17 -- An online backlash has erupted against IAS officer Divya S Iyer after she praised Kerala chief minister's former private secretary, who has been appointed the Kannur district secretary of the ruling CPI(M).

However, the criticism led by some Congress leaders prompted Pinarayi Vijayan to come to Iyer's defence, accusing the grand old party of perpetuating a "patriarchal mindset."

Iyer, a 2014-batch Kerala cadre officer is married to Congress leader KS Sabarinadhan, the son of the late Congress veteran G Karthikeyan. She is currently serving as the managing director of the Vizhinjam International Seaport.

In a social media post, Iyer praised CPI(M) leader KK Ragesh for his tenure as the chief minister's private secreta...