Mon Oct 13 08:18:05 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, focusing on the key information and written in a journalistic style:

**The Hindu News Article: October 13, 2025**

**Former IAS Officer Kannan Gopinathan Joins Congress Party, Cites Concerns Over Democratic Values**

**New Delhi:** Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Kannan Gopinathan officially joined the Indian National Congress (INC) on Monday, October 13, 2025, in a ceremony held at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi. The event was attended by senior Congress leaders including General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and Pawan Khera.

Gopinathan, who resigned from his position as secretary of the power, urban development and town and country planning departments of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 2019, stated that his decision was driven by concerns over the direction the country is heading. He specifically cited the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent restrictions placed on the region as a catalyst for his resignation.

“Abrogating Article 370 might be a decision of the Government,” Gopinathan stated after joining the party. “But if you decide to shut down an entire state, jail all journalists, MPs and former CMs, shut down transportation, communication and internet, then is it right? This is a question not just for me but for all of us. Can this be right in a democratic nation?”

K.C. Venugopal welcomed Gopinathan to the party, describing him as a “fearless voice for democracy” and highlighting his record as a “principled administrator and active citizen.” Venugopal also added ” his joining will certainly give a boost to our movement that stands to protect the Constitution, freedom, and inclusive social fabric of India”. Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar were also present in the press meet.

Gopinathan, hailing from Kerala and an electrical engineering graduate of Birla Institute of Technology, joined the IAS in 2012. Following his resignation in 2019, he has traveled extensively across India, engaging with citizens and leaders, a process he says ultimately led him to the conclusion that the Congress party is best positioned to steer the country in the right direction.

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