The Kerala BJP, led by K Surendran, strongly opposes Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's decision to appoint a senior IAS officer as 'Foreign Secretary', citing it as an overreach and violation of the Constitution. This move by the Kerala government to handle 'matters concerning external cooperation' through this appointment has raised concerns about the state's involvement in foreign affairs, a domain typically under the Union Government. Surendran and others have criticized the appointment, linking it to past controversies like gold smuggling and financial irregularities. The decision to assign the IAS officer to oversee external cooperation has sparked discussions about legality and potential repercussions on India's federal structure and international relations, with experts questioning the deviation from established protocols and the state's role in such matters.