Leader of Opposition and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, 18 June launched a sharp attack against Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, alleging that the Governor was attempting to operate as a parallel administration by directly convening meetings with state government departments ahead of International Yoga Day.

The Core Allegation

Vijayan argued that the Governor's decision to call departmental meetings was a direct violation of established democratic practices and constitutional conventions. 'This is a very serious issue. The Governor is moving towards becoming a parallel administrative authority, which cannot be accepted,' he said, also questioning why the new state government had remained silent on the matter.

The former Chief Minister placed the responsibility squarely on incumbent Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, stating that Satheesan was duty-bound to protect the authority and dignity of the state government and must make his position publicly clear.

Historical Precedent Cited

Vijayan recalled that in 2024, when the then Governor had sought reports directly from the Chief Secretary and the State Police Chief, the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had firmly opposed the move. He implied the current United Democratic Front (UDF) government should demonstrate the same resolve.

PM-SHRI Scheme Controversy

Vijayan also turned his attention to the UDF government's decision to proceed with the Centre's PM-SHRI education scheme, accusing both the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of having earlier stoked controversy over the very same programme.

He explained that the previous Left government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre only after Kerala's Samagra Shiksha funds were withheld, and that the MoU was subsequently kept in abeyance. Vijayan argued that signing an MoU did not constitute implementation, pointing to Punjab's decision to exit the PM-SHRI programme nine months after signing it as a precedent. He demanded the UDF government explain why it had reversed course on a scheme it once opposed, and disputed claims that Kerala had received funds specifically under PM-SHRI, asserting the allocations were routed through the Samagra Shiksha programme.

Public Health System Under Fire

The Opposition leader also raised alarms over the state's public health infrastructure, alleging acute shortages of medicines and medical staff even as communicable diseases were on the rise. He noted that nearly 400 doctors who had cleared the Public Service Commission (PSC) examination were still awaiting appointment — a delay he described as unacceptable given the current health situation.

What Comes Next

The Governor's office has not issued an immediate response to Vijayan's allegations. With the UDF government yet to publicly address the constitutional propriety of the Governor's departmental meetings, the standoff between Raj Bhavan and the state's political establishment is likely to sharpen in the days ahead.