Kerala Governor Embroiled in Assembly Row Over Modified Address
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Thiruvananthapuram: A dispute erupted in the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused Governor Rajendra Arlekar of altering parts of the customary opening address delivered at the start of the House's final session. The Governor's 112-minute-long policy speech, approved by the state cabinet, omitted sections criticizing the Union government's fiscal policy and the delay in giving assent to bills passed by the state legislature. Vijayan stated that he had made some changes to paragraphs 12, 15, and 16 of the address, which the Governor had allegedly modified. The Chief Minister read out the omitted and modified sections, highlighting the differences between the approved text and the Governor's speech. The controversy centers around three key paragraphs. In paragraph 12, the Governor altered the phrase 'adverse Union government actions' to 'curtailment of advances.' In paragraph 15, he omitted a section discussing the delay in the passage of bills. Additionally, in paragraph 16, the Governor prefaced a section about tax devolution and finance commission grants with the phrase 'My government feels.' The Governor's office has dismissed the allegations as 'baseless and unnecessary.' However, the Lok Bhavan stated that the Governor had asked for the removal of 'half-truths' from the draft speech and that the government had agreed to send the revised speech with suggested changes. The same version of the speech was returned without any amendments. The dispute has sparked debate about the Governor's role in the Assembly. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan backed the government's argument that the Governor cannot make changes to the policy address but also accused the government of using the controversy as a 'drama' ahead of the upcoming elections. This is not the first time the LDF government has clashed with the Governor or his predecessors. The government has had tumultuous relationships with Governors, resulting in disputes over university appointments, assent to bills, campus politics, and other issues.
