A disagreement has arisen between the Kerala government and Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar regarding the policy address. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized that, as per rules and conventions, only the version approved by the Cabinet carries official weight. Vijayan highlighted that previous governors, including Arif Mohammed Khan, had presented the policy address in its entirety despite reading it briefly for just over a minute.
The Speaker of the Assembly, A.N. Shamseer, sided with Vijayan, undermining the Governor’s stance. This conflict stemmed from the Governor’s letter to the Speaker, asserting that the version he read in the Assembly should be considered the official address, rather than the text approved by the Council of Ministers.
Vijayan pointed out discrepancies in the Governor’s version, such as omissions and alterations in crucial clauses related to Kerala’s financial challenges and constitutional rights over tax revenues. He cited constitutional provisions emphasizing that the Governor’s address is based on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The ongoing dispute reflects broader tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the state government, raising concerns about constitutional norms and federal relations.
