Path to consensus: Governor-Chief Minister meeting ends on positive note

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visited the Raj Bhavan on Sunday, giving signs of ending the ongoing ‘cold war’ between the Governor and the Government over the Kerala University row.

Meanwhile, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will file an appeal in the Supreme Court today against the High Court decision that quashed the appointment of temporary VCs in technical and digital universities.

It is reported that the Governor requested the Chief Minister to accept the Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal’s decision to suspend Registrar Dr. K.A. Anilkumar. Anilkumar will not be allowed to come to the office for a few days after the suspension is approved. It is understood that the Governor has also put forward a consensus that steps will be taken to review the suspension later. This move is likely to be acceptable for the government. A few days ago, Higher Education Minister Dr Bindu had invited the Vice Chancellor to his official residence for discussions, but no favourable results were reached.

The Chief Minister, who arrived at the Raj Bhavan at around 3:30 pm yesterday, held discussions with the Governor for over an hour. The meeting, which lasted till 4:35 pm, was extremely cordial. Along with the Governor and the Chief Minister, the Governor's Secretary, Davendra Kumar Dhodawa, also participated in the discussions.

The Chief Minister's visit is also aimed at getting the bills postponed by the Governor signed. The government had prepared the rules and regulations in the hope that the Governor would approve the bill to start private universities. The other two bills are related to the amendment of the University Act.

• There are also indications that the two leaders had informally exchanged views while staying in adjacent rooms at Kerala House in Delhi the other day.

• The Chief Minister came with a letter requesting him to adopt the path of conciliation. The Governor, who read the letter, showed the Chief Minister the report given to him by Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal regarding the incidents at the University.

• The governor also raised the condescending attitude espoused by the Registrar, defying the suspension order and entering the University. The actions of the Left-wing syndicate members were also a subject of discussion.