THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister and Ministers opted out of the tea party hosted by Governor Arif Muhammad Khan at Raj Bhavan, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations. The boycott stems from ongoing controversies surrounding policy announcements in the Assembly.

This is not the first time such a protest has occurred. Earlier, the Chief Minister and Ministers boycotted the governor's tea reception for the swearing-in of new ministers KB Ganesh Kumar and Ramachandran Kadannapally.

Despite both the Governor and Chief Minister attending the Republic Day program in the morning, they refrained from any interaction. During the Governor's speech, he commenced by acknowledging the Chief Minister but refrained from direct communication.

Governor Khan emphasized the development achievements of the central government and denounced dissent turning into violence as a betrayal of democracy. He stressed that power struggles should not compromise governance. Furthermore, he criticized external interference in higher education, stating it pollutes academia. The Governor underscored the importance of independent educational institutions free from external influence for Kerala's progress. The banquet, scheduled for Friday evening, included special guests alongside the absent Chief Minister and Ministers.