Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar assumed office as the 23rd Governor of Kerala on Thursday. Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar administered the oath during a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Speaker AN Shamseer, cabinet ministers, and senior officials attended the event.
Arlekar replaced Arif Mohammed Khan, who served as Kerala’s Governor for over five years. Khan has now been transferred to Bihar. In a unique arrangement, Arlekar and Khan have effectively swapped roles, as Arlekar previously served as Bihar’s Governor.
Chief Minister Vijayan personally received Arlekar at the airport, marking a notable moment. This contrasted with Khan’s departure, which did not see Vijayan or his cabinet colleagues in attendance.
Upon his arrival, Arlekar visited the Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, originally from Kerala. Speaking about his new role, Arlekar emphasized cooperation with the state government. He stated, “My job is to assist the Kerala government, and I am not going for any confrontation.”
The tenure of outgoing Governor Khan was marked by frequent clashes with Chief Minister Vijayan. A significant source of conflict was Khan’s opposition to the government’s efforts to influence state universities. He refused to sign several key ordinances, forcing the state to approach the Supreme Court for intervention.
Arlekar’s first major task will be delivering the Governor’s address at the Kerala Legislative Assembly later this month. The address is a crucial constitutional duty.
During the Assembly’s first session in 2024, Khan delivered a record-short address lasting less than 90 seconds amid heightened tensions with the government. Observers now keenly await how Arlekar will navigate the political dynamics between the Governor’s office and the Vijayan-led administration.
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