The 77th Republic Day celebrations in Kerala were conducted with grandeur, but tensions arose during the official ceremony in the state capital between the Governor and the LDF government. Governor Rajendra Arlekar led the celebrations at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, hoisting the national flag and overseeing the parade. However, a notable deviation occurred as the Governor chose not to deliver the prepared speech distributed for the Republic Day function, a departure from the usual protocol where the speech is a joint effort between the state government and Raj Bhavan.
The decision by the Governor to skip the prepared speech holds significance amidst an ongoing dispute over his role in the Assembly session address. Governor Arlekar had previously made alterations to the policy address, leading to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressing the omitted portions, sparking a constitutional and political debate. The disagreement escalated further as the Governor sought clarification, prompting Lok Bhavan to request the text and video of the Chief Minister’s speech from the Assembly Speaker.
While the Republic Day ceremony proceeded smoothly, the Governor’s choice not to deliver the prepared speech highlighted the persisting tensions between the state’s constitutional head and the elected government. The incident, occurring at the parade venue where Chief Minister Vijayan welcomed Governor Arlekar, underscores the ongoing standoff between the two entities.
