Kerala is gripped by a debate on whether Governor Arif Mohammad Khan is denying the State government its jurisdictional powers. The CPI(M)-led LDF government and the Congress-led UDF opposition have in varying degrees accused Mr. Khan of often acting in excess of his role as the nominal head of the executive. The Governor’s frequent defence of the Centre and questioning of the Kerala government’s decisions have rendered him vulnerable to criticism that the Raj Bhavan is subverting the elected government by overstepping its constitutional boundaries.
Matters came to a head in Kerala on the eve of the budget session of the Assembly when Mr. Khan refused to give his assent to the government’s policy address for the next fiscal. The Governor was reportedly upset that the government had in principle objected to his appointing a BJP leader on his staff in a purportedly advisory role. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan scrambled to the Raj Bhavan to avert a constitutional crisis amid media speculation that a telephone call between the constitutional entities had not gone well. The government finally sidestepped the legal quandary by removing the bureaucrat who reminded the Raj Bhavan in writing that there was no precedent for appointing persons active in politics in the Governor’s office.
The CPI, a prominent LDF ally, and the Congress-led UDF opposition slammed the government for “placating” the Governor and for removing the bureaucrat who had merely conveyed the administration’s position to the Governor. They said the Governor had no recourse but to approve the policy address ratified by the Cabinet. However, Mr. Khan, it seemed, had hijacked the government with a “toy gun”.
