Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan has criticized Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan stating the governor’s intimidation tactics are against Kerala and the State faced and survived greater intimidation in the past. He made these remarks at a press conference. He termed the Governor as Care Taker Governor
The governor’s term, which ended on September 5, has not yet been renewed. Arif Mohammad Khan is currently serving as governor under Article 156(3) of the Constitution, which allows for a continuation until a successor is appointed. Govindan claimed that the caretaker governor was taking inappropriate actions. He argued that the governor’s declaration of distrust in the chief minister was unconstitutional.
The governor is attempting to conduct parallel governance by calling officials without the government’s knowledge, contrary to the constitutional requirement to act according to the advice of the council of ministers. He pointed out that it is the central government’s responsibility to prevent gold smuggling, yet the governor sought information from the state. Calling state government officials for inquiries undermines democratic rights, and such unconstitutional actions will be resisted.
Govindan stated that the central government is planning to use governors to destabilize opposition-led governments. While the LDF government is working to strengthen the higher education sector, both the governor and the UDF are trying to undermine those efforts. He emphasized that as Kerala’s universities have made significant progress, the governor has stepped in to disrupt that momentum.
