Ker CM writes to PM against transfer of SBT official, merger

With a controversy brewing over the transfer of a senior official of the State Bank of Travancore from here for allegedly opposing the bank's merger with SBI, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the shifting and the merger move.
SBT Chief General Manager S Adikesavan was transferred to Hyderabad for allegedly speaking against the proposed merger of Kerala-based SBT with the banking behemoth State Bank of India.
In the letter, Vijayan has sought withdrawal of the transfer order and the merger decision, the CM's office said.
Veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achutanandan and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala were among those who voiced their views against the transfer of the official, who had stood against the merger proposal.

However, SBT Managing Director C R Sasi Kumar said the transfer was part of a "routine" exercises.
The official has been transferred to SBI's Inspection and Management wing at Hyderabad, he said.
The SBT Employees union has also come out against the transfer of Adikesavan.
Various political parties including ruling CPI-M have opposed the merger of SBT with SBI.