Kerala CM, Governor, and FM Sitharaman’s 'unofficial' meeting sparks political speculation amid fiscal tensions

Thiruvananthapuram: An eagerly awaited meeting between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar with the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, amidst several central-state fiscal issues, has turned out to be an 'unofficial one' giving enough room for political speculations.

The meeting took place a day after another unusual meeting. Arlekar, who recently replaced Arif Mohammed Khan as Governor, held a meeting in Delhi with MPs from Kerala, who are mostly from the Congress, along with the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister later said in a statement that, "It is a matter of joy and inspiration that the Governor has assured to be with the team Kerala for taking up the state's demands with the centre. It is for the first time that a Governor is holding such a meeting. It marks a new beginning."

The fresh moves are raising many eyebrows as Kerala had been witnessing a Governor-government rift for quite some time. Former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had been openly criticising the Pinarayi government on various issues and the CPM government was countering that the BJP government at the centre was using governors politically against non-BJP ruled states.

The Chief Minister's meeting with the finance minister was an eagerly awaited one as a host of the state's fiscal issues were pending with the centre. But the chief minister's office informed that it was an 'unofficial' breakfast meeting.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal reacted that it sounds quite unusual that a meeting between the Chief Minister and the Union Finance Minister was an unofficial one. When asked about the Governor's support in taking up the state's issues with the centre, Venugopal said that Arlekar is part of a political system that misuses governors to sabotage democracy.

Incidentally, the fresh cordial moves between the CPM government in Kerala and the BJP government at the centre are taking place amidst political speculations that the BJP and the CPM could make a tactical understanding in the coming assembly elections in Kerala to take on the Congress, which is the common opponent. CPM's recent statement that it is not of the view that the BJP government at the centre is fascist was also interpreted by political observers as moves towards that direction.

Tharoor too hails the Governor's meeting.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had also hailed Arlekar's initiative.

Tharoor said in a social media post that the unusual gesture of the Governor hosting a discussion with all Kerala MPs on the state's problems and the Chief Minister too attending it augurs well for the combined efforts to develop the state, beyond political differences.

Tharoor had recently invited criticism from Congress camps after he appreciated the growth of start-ups in Kerala under the CPM government.