Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan
Credit: PTI Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: An eventful five-year term of Arif Mohammad Khan as Kerala governor has come to an end with the Centre replacing him with the incumbent Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Khan, who will replace Arlekar as Bihar governor, had been locking horns on several issues with the LDF government in Kerala led by Pinarayi Vijayan.
Apart from frequently criticising the government during his tenure, Khan even went to the extent of holding a press conference at the Raj Bhavan to attack the CPI(M) government mainly over the alleged political interventions in selection of vice-chancellors and other crucial recruitments at universities in the state.
He often used harsh words against Vijayan and some of his cabinet colleagues. Khan had also withdrawn his pleasure for finance minister K N Balagopal after the latter made critical remarks against him.
The state had also witnessed CPI(M)'s students' outfits SFI staging strong protests against Khan and and blocking his entry to universities. Khan too challenged the student activists on the streets on many occasions, which led to tense situations.
Khan also refused to give nod to various bills and ordinances, including the one pertaining to removing the governor from the post of chancellor of universities and referred those to the President.
During Khan's term, Kerala also witnessed the state government and the governor getting involved in legal fights against each other. Khan also limited the Governor's policy address in the assembly earlier this year by reading only the opening and concluding portion.
Even as the state could be heaving a sigh of relief over Khan being shifted, sources point out that his successor Arlekar hails from a BJP-RSS background and the chances for friction with the CPI(M) government could not be ruled out. Recently, he was caught up in a controversy over his statement that the British left India not due to Satyagrah, but following armed struggles.
A native of Goa, 70-year-old Arlekar had earlier served as governor in Himachal Pradesh and minister and speaker in Goa. He had also served as BJP state president in Goa.