Thiruvananthapuram: K R Ajayan, the editor in charge of Deshabhimani's weekly supplement, has resigned in connection with the controversy over an article titled 'Kallan Vijayan'.

The Deshabhimani editorial board had asked Ajayan to either resign or go on leave. He submitted his resignation to K J Thomas, who is in charge of the newspaper, following discussions at various levels. Ajayan is understood to have resigned after being assured that his service benefits would not be withheld.

The controversy began after the publication of a weekly supplement prepared with a cover story commemorating former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan was postponed.

Ajayan had been removed from the charge of the weekly supplement following the controversy. His resignation comes just four months before his scheduled retirement.

The weekly supplement was initially withheld after an article written by T C Rajesh Sindhu was sent to the press for printing with the headline 'Kallan Vijayan' without the required correction. The supplement was not distributed on Sunday and was published the following day after the article was removed. The cover story of that article appeared under the headline 'Muzhangunnippolum Aa Kadalarimbam'.

However, the delay was triggered by another issue involving the same headline. A separate article carrying the title 'Kallan Vijayan' had been included elsewhere in the supplement, and the problem was detected at the last minute.

The page had been designed with the headline 'Kallan Vijayan, Dhanya Nadakagramam, Muththippara P O' displayed as though it were written on a hanging board. The issue came to light when the soft copy of the page was submitted for approval.

The editor in charge objected to a direction to remove the entire last page and prepare a new one. The weekly supplement was subsequently withheld. The article that was removed from the weekly supplement was later shared by T C Rajesh on social media.