'Prime Minister who defends the Governor should look back a few years': Minister V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister V Sivankutty asserts that the Governor is receiving due respect. He responded to remarks made by the Prime Minister in an interview with a private Malayalam channel. The claim that the governor lacks adequate funds is deemed baseless. The minister also affirmed that the government is operating in the best interest of the state's populace.

To revisit the Prime Minister's stance on the Governor, we must rewind to 2011 when Narendra Modi served as Chief Minister of Gujarat. At that time, Modi indeed engaged in a public dispute with Governor Kamala Beniwal, a former Congress leader. He vocalized concerns about Article 163, advocating for measures to limit the Governor's powers.

In 2013, Modi introduced the Gujarat Universities Law (Amendment) Bill, which aimed to reduce the Governor's authority in appointing university vice-chancellors. Governor Kamala Beniwal rejected the bill, but in 2015, under the BJP government, Governor O P Kohli approved it.

Modi's conflict with the governor was significant then, highlighting the importance of respecting the Governor's constitutional position. While the Constitution designates the Governor as the state's constitutional head, executive power lies with the elected government. Consequently, the Governor's role is to sanction decisions made by the government with the aid and advice of the Cabinet. Minister V Sivankutty further emphasized that the Governor's attempts to challenge Kerala's elected government have disrupted governance.