Congress MP and General Secretary K.C. Venugopal launched a sharp political attack on newly sworn-in Kerala Governor Om Prakash Mathur on 23 October 2025, barely an hour after Mathur assumed office — targeting a reported directive that meat and fish should not be cooked in the Lok Bhavan kitchen. Venugopal called the move a direct assault on food freedom and an intrusion into Kerala's social and cultural traditions.

The Oath and the Controversy

Om Prakash Mathur, who previously served as the Governor of Sikkim, was sworn in as Kerala's 29th Governor at the Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday. Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen administered the oath, with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, ministers and elected representatives present. Notably, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan was absent from the ceremony.

The controversy over the reported dietary directive surfaced almost immediately after Mathur formally assumed charge, setting a combative tone for his tenure from day one.

What Venugopal Said

Taking to social media, Venugopal charged that those who had, in his words, 'snatched votes and struck at the very roots of a citizen's democratic rights are now preparing to take away food freedom as well.' He said Kerala, as a coastal state with abundant fish resources, had a long and diverse tradition of consuming fish and non-vegetarian food — a tradition woven into everyday life across communities.

'Any attempt to restrict the food habits of Malayalis or dictate what they should eat from now on cannot be accepted,' Venugopal said. He clarified that the Governor was free to follow his personal vegetarian diet, but that it was unacceptable to apply those preferences to the Lok Bhavan kitchen, which also serves employees from Kerala.

Allegations of Constitutional Violation

Venugopal alleged that such a restriction would undermine individual freedom and violate fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He described the reported directive as a continuation of what he called the 'unconstitutional interests of the Sangh Parivar' and an attempt to introduce what he termed the saffron agenda in Kerala.

He warned that policies imposed at Lok Bhavan could gradually spread to other institutions, becoming a means of imposing uniformity on people's lifestyles. 'Food freedom is the right of every individual. The Governor of Kerala must withdraw from any action that curtails this freedom,' he said.

Broader Context

The row is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing tension between Kerala's elected government and the Raj Bhavan — a pattern seen under previous governors as well. Kerala's diverse food culture, spanning vegetarian and non-vegetarian traditions across Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities, makes any perceived dietary imposition politically sensitive. Mathur has not publicly responded to the allegations as of Friday evening, and the reported directive itself has not been officially confirmed by the Raj Bhavan.

What Happens Next

With the Congress and, reportedly, other parties likely to amplify the issue, the Governor faces immediate political pressure even before settling into his new role. Whether Mathur addresses the controversy or allows it to subside without comment will set an early signal for his relationship with Kerala's political establishment. All eyes will be on the Raj Bhavan's official response in the coming days.