Kerala Leader of Opposition Accuses Governor of Constitutional Violations
Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has accused Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar of violating constitutional conventions by directly holding meetings with government Secretaries.
According to Vijayan, the Governor's actions are anti-constitutional and create a parallel power centre. He also stated that there is a widespread perception that the government is surrendering to the Sangh Parivar.
Chief Minister's Office Responds
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has issued a statement denying any prior knowledge of the meeting and stating that the Governor's Secretary informed the Chief Secretary that only communication regarding the yoga day took place.
The CMO also stated that the Chief Secretary has written to Lok Bhavan expressing the government's dissatisfaction with the holding of such a meeting and requesting special care to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Background
This is not the first instance of the Governor's actions being questioned. In 2024, the Governor directed the Chief Secretary and the State Police Chief to appear for a meeting, which the State government had taken a stand against.
Vijayan's accusations have sparked a debate on the role of the Governor and the limits of their powers.