Thiruvananthapuram: After Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan demanded action against state Finance Minister KN Balagopal for a speech, both the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Congress have taken a jibe at him. According to media reports, the CPI(M) and the Congress on Wednesday took on Governor Arif Mohammad Khan for demanding action against Finance Minister KN Balagopal. However, it is a matter of fact that the Congress has expressed apprehension and said that this tussle between the governor and the government is not fake somewhere?

The ruling party CPI(M) in Kerala has alleged that Governor Arif Mohammad Khan is trying to implement the agenda of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Also appealed to them to work under the constitutional and legal provisions. At the same time, the Congress said that their demand for the removal of the minister should be rejected 'considering contempt'. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, in a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, sought action against Finance Minister KN Balagopal for his statement undermining "national unity", which was rejected by the Chief Minister.

In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan alleged that Finance Minister KN Balagopal's speech on October 18 in the university campus undermined the oath he had taken and the integrity of India. The Governor said that he was left with no option but to state that he was not happy with his continuation in the post of Finance Minister.

Addressing media persons in Thiruvananthapuram, CPI(M) provincial secretary MV Govindan said as per the constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court's judgment in this regard, the governor's trust cannot be personal and cannot be changed by personal choice. He fully supported the Finance Minister and said that in the speech of KN Balagopal, no derogatory remark was made to any person, as alleged by the Governor.

MV Govindan said that the Chief Minister has already replied that the personal pleasure of the Governor is not necessary to retain the minister in the cabinet. The decision of the Chief Minister is more important. The Supreme Court has clearly defined the meaning of happiness in its order. The Left leader also criticized the governor's move to demand the resignation of the vice-chancellors of the state's premier universities in the name of the recent Supreme Court order.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly and Congress MLA VD Satheshan said Arif Mohammad Khan's actions in New Delhi (pointing to the Centre) would not lead to administrative crisis in the state and that such powers would certainly be exercised by the opposition Governor. would question what is not inherent in them. He slammed the attack, saying the governor is not a god who cannot be questioned and it is the opposition which criticized him before the ministers. He said that in the history of India, has any governor demanded the removal of the minister? He can demand the removal of the Senate member of the universities if needed.

Congress took a dig at Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as well as the Left government of the state, saying that the recent Supreme Court's decision regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellors is against both. He said that the Supreme Court underlined that the appointment of all the Vice Chancellors jointly by the Governor and the government was done in violation of the rules of the UGC (University Grants Commission) and is illegal. Therefore, a false fight is going on between the governor and the government to deceive the public about the decisions.

State secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI) Kanam Rajendran, another major constituent in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), alleged that the governor was challenging not only democracy but also the Constitution. When he was asked about the letter sent by the Governor to the Chief Minister, Rajendran scoffed that if there is a post office, anyone can send the letter. He said that this development is only minor and it will not create a crisis in the state.