THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said that he was dismissing CPM politburo member Brinda Karat's criticism against him with disdain. The Governor also asked if Brinda Karat had ever contested in an election. Brinda Karat had come down heavily on Arif Mohammed Khan the other day.

Lashing out at the Governor, Brinda criticized that the Governor was interfering in the activities of the Kerala government on the instructions of the BJP. She had also advised him to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Kerala on a BJP ticket. The Governor has now come out in response to this.

The Governor said that he was invited to the New Year feast hosted by the Chief Minister. "There is no rift with the Chief Minister. I am only doing my legal duty. You must raise questions to the Chief Minister just like you are asking me. The invitation letter for the feast is there in the Raj Bhavan," he told media persons.

Brinda Karat raised criticism against the Governor at a time when the disputes between the state government and the Governor were intensifying. The Governor-Government relationship has deteriorated over various issues, including the withholding of bills passed by the Kerala Assembly.