CM Vijayan Hurries to Welcome New Governor Arlekar Following Departure of Arif Mohd Khan
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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 1 (NationPress) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday wrapped up his press conference in haste, indicating he had to dash to the airport for the arrival of incoming Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
This comes after Governor Arif Mohammed Khan departed for Bihar on December 29, following over five years in his position, during which neither Vijayan nor any of his cabinet members attended to bid him farewell.
When questioned by the media about the absence of Vijayan and his team, Khan, recognized for his friendly rapport with journalists, sidestepped the inquiry, mentioning that the nation was grieving the loss of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
In their absence, Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan and a junior aide visited Khan’s official residence to convey their regards.
The public discord between Khan and Vijayan was often evident, with the two leaders rarely acknowledging each other during official events. A significant point of contention was Khan's opposition to the Kerala government's efforts to exert influence over state universities. The situation escalated when he declined to sign critical ordinances and bills, leading the state administration to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.
The already strained dynamics between Vijayan and outgoing Khan reached a new low, as neither Vijayan nor his cabinet members attended Khan's farewell. BJP leader V. Muraleedharan criticized this behavior, calling it 'unbecoming' for those in leadership.
Khan also experienced confrontations with student activists from the ruling CPI-M-affiliated SFI, once exiting his vehicle to engage directly with protesting students.
Earlier that day, Arlekar visited the residence of Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, who is originally from Kerala, before heading to Kerala.
"My role is to support the Kerala government, and I do not intend to engage in any confrontations. I have always maintained this stance. My visit to the Goa Governor is simply to gain insights," he stated.
On Thursday, Arlekar will be inaugurated by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court Nitin Madhukar Jamdar at the Governor's official residence.
All attention is on Arlekar, an experienced politician from Goa and the former Governor of Bihar, and while he has clarified his position, only time will reveal how the relationship between him and the Vijayan administration unfolds.
