THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the aftermath of Governor Arif Mohammed Khanโs extraordinary sit-in protest in Keralaโs Kollam, political tensions are on the rise as left parties and the Congress vehemently criticised him for what they perceive as an attempt to defame the state on the national stage.
The CPI(M), Congress, and IUML took a harsh stance against the governor, accusing him of engaging in a mere โshowโ to tarnish the stateโs image nationally. The unusual protests and the Home Ministryโs decision to provide Z+ security to the governor further intensified the conflict, with the state government expressing outrage over not being informed of the Centreโs security arrangement.
Also Read: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar resigns, ponders joining NDA amid INDIA bloc turmoil
While the state BJP rallied behind Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Union Minister V Muraleedharan criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for failing to provide security to the head of the state. The minister also questioned the policeโs failure to offer adequate security to the governor.
V Muraleedharan defended the governorโs position, stating, โThe only individuals who disagree with the Governorโs position are the members of the CPI(M) in Kerala.โ
General Education Minister V Sivankutty, a senior CPM leader, questioned the governorโs mental state, claiming that his actions seemed peculiar. LDF convenor E P Jayarajan criticised Khan for attempting to generate anti-Kerala sentiments nationally and unleashed a scathing attack on his actions, questioning whether any governor had behaved similarly.
LSGD Minister M B Rajesh termed the governorโs action as part of a political agenda, emphasising that it wasnโt merely childish behaviour.
Meanwhile, the Congress labelled the incident in Nilamel as part of a political game, accusing the governor and the government of engaging in a cat-and-mouse game. Satheeshan, speaking to the media, stated, โThe public will realise their political drama.โ
Also Read: Why Sheikh Hasinaโs landmark victory in Bangladesh holds relevance for India
The series of incidents unfolded on January 27 when the governor, en route to an event at Sadanandapuram Ashramam in Kottarakkara, faced protests by SFI workers waving black flags. Khan, in a dramatic turn of events, sat on a chair in front of a tea shop, accusing the police of favouring the agitators.
In response, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the governor for attempting to defame the state through unconstitutional means, leading to heightened tensions between the state government and the governor. The Home Ministry is reportedly monitoring the situation closely and is expected to hold discussions to ensure that the law and order situation does not escalate in the state.
