Kerala governor P Sathasivam's concern on law and order leaves many baffled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The governor taking an extraordinary interest in the law and order situation in the state has triggered a debate in political circles. Congress and CPM leaders were cautious in their response as they did not want to worsen the situation. P. Sathasivam had summoned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and police chief Loknath Behera to Raj Bhavan on Sunday seeking an explanation for escalating violence in the state. Later, he also spoke to BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan and CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan over the phone.

LDF convener Vaikom Viswan said law and order in other states were worse than Kerala. “It is not fair to react as we do not know what exactly had transpired at the closed door meetings. But Kerala has a better record," he said. "It's unfortunate that the governor was acting as a tool of the Union government,” he said. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy took a safer stand explaining that probably the governor wanted to hear as the head of the state about the deteriorating law and order situation from the chief of the executive.

“Over the last few days, the state capital has been witnessing violence, and people live in fear. In fact, the governor too must have felt the heat," he told DC. "Governor who is also the head of the State might have been keen to hear about the prevalent law and order situation.” A section of legal experts and social activists have questioned the propriety of the Governor summoning the Chief Minister and DGP to express his concern about the law and order situation. In a discussion in a television channel Kaleeswaram Raj said the action by the governor is against the constitutional norms. The governor is expected to function on the advice of the council of ministers, he pointed out. Another legal expert M.R. Rajendran Nair has also questioned the constitutional propriety of the governor summoning the state police chief.