Dispute between Kerala Governor and CM set to widen
Dispute between Kerala Governor and CM set to widen
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  After a brief pause, the conflict between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the State  Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is likely to flare up again as Congressman Jyothikumar Chamakala has filed a complaint against the former for "misusing" his position.

The recent conflict between the two heads of state ended with the chief minister criticising the governor for acting without abiding by the constitutional authority granted to him.

Recently, Congress leader Chamakala filed a petition with the local Vigilance Court alleging that since Vijayan had openly admitted to abusing his position and requested the appointment of a new vice chancellor for Kannur University, there had been a clear violation of his office and a case should be filed. The appointment authority of the person against whom the case has been lodged may, per the rules, conduct the investigation if the state does not request one. Khan is Vijayan's appointment authority.

Knowing that the state government cannot approve an investigation while Vijayan is in the dock, petitioner Chamakala has submitted a request to Khan asking for permission to charge Vijayan. Khan croitisised Vijayan vehemently for asking him to re-appoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University, but Vijayan disputed the accusations, insisting that all the regulations and processes were followed in the appointment. The approval had been given by Khan himself.

Khan reaffirmed that he made the appointment based on Vijayan's request and has now realised that it was incorrect at a news conference on Monday where he published the letters between him and Vijayan.

Khan, who is currently in North India, is scheduled to return early next month. If he declines, the Congress-led opposition would accuse the two leaders of having a covert agreement and label all the commotion as "staged." But if he approves, the ruling Left, led by the CPI-M, would rise up in revolt against him.

Notably, Vijayan encountered a comparable circumstance in 2006 when the then-Gov. R.S.Gavai authorised Vijayan's prosecution in the SNC Lavalin case.

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