Centre evaluating performance; will Arif Mohammed Khan continue as Kerala Governor?
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government is evaluating the performance of state governors. Cabinet sub-committee under the chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah will meet in July for this purpose. The IB report on the performance of the Governor will be considered. Continuity of governors and change of state will be decided based on the recommendation of the committee.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's term ends in September. Kerala is looking forward to whether Khan, who gained national attention by constantly clashing with the country's only communist government, will continue even after his term. Meanwhile, Khan is more ambitious to become the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
The Governor can continue for five years or until the will of the President. Even if his term expires, he can continue until a new governor is appointed. The Governor had put the government on edge by withholding bills and lashing out at the Chief Minister. It is estimated that the governor may not be changed since the local and assembly elections are coming up. However, BJP's policy is that governors will not be allowed two terms. It should be seen if this will be relaxed.
73-year-old Khan had earlier tried for the post of Vice President, but Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar was the one who got selected. Khan took charge as the 22nd Governor of Kerala on September 6, 2019. He is a native of Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. Khan, who entered the UP Assembly at the age of 26, became the youngest minister in Uttar Pradesh.
Changing parties multiple times
- Starting with Charan Singh's Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Arif Mohammed Khan grew through the Congress. In 1986, Khan left the Congress, resigning as Union Minister in protest against the Muslim Divorce Protection Act.
- Later Khan joined Janata Dal through Jan Morcha along with VP Singh. Aviation Minister in VP Singh Govt. He then joined BSP. Khan won from Bahraich in UP on Congress, Janata Dal and BSP tickets
- Khan, who joined the BJP in 2004, has a close relationship with the Prime Minister. He has openly said that he has been an RSS supporter for decades. He is one of the leading Muslim faces in BJP