Governor creating constitutional crisis in Kerala at behest of BJP, RSS: CPI(M)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling CPM led Left Democratic Front in Kerala has urged President Draupadi Murmu to advise Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to adhere to constitutional principles in the state while discharging his duties.

A day after Mr Khan’s unprecedented action of levelling serious allegations against the chief minister and the LDF government at a press conference convened at the Raj Bhavan, CPI leader in Rajya Sabha Mr Binoy Viswam shot off a letter to the President seeking her immediate intervention in the matter. The LDF is exploring all options to lodge its strong protest against what it calls the governor’s “unconstitutional” behaviour.

CPM state secretary Mr M V Govindan also hit out at Governor Khan for holding a press conference at the Raj Bhavan. “Instead of discharging his constitutional responsibilities without any bias, the governor seems to be acting like a Swayamsevak of the RSS. He should not be behaving like a representative of a particular party,” he said.

Local bodies minister Mr M B Rajesh alleged that the RSS was using the governor to create a constitutional crisis in the state. “How can the governor say that he will not give assent to the bills which he has not even seen ? This clearly shows that he has a premeditated approach towards the government,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the state unit of the BJP came out in support of Governor Khan.

BJP leader Shobha Surendran said there was nothing wrong in the governor meeting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Thrissur the other day. “The CPM must realise that the political era in which RSS leaders were kept out, is now over,” she said.

The BJP leader said the governor has acted remaining within his constitutional responsibilities.

The Kearla governor on Monday had alleged that the CPM was trying to intimidate him. He had also claimed that the chief minister had personally intervened in the appointment of vice chancellor in Kannur University.