THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shashi Tharoor MP's wishes for Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who took oath as the new Governor of Kerala, are stoking a controversy. Tharoor wish was ‘Let us hope he has a happy tenure in our complicated state.’ Arlekar was sworn in as the Governor of Kerala at a function held at the Raj Bhavan yesterday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others received the Governor.

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (70) was attired in a Kerala mundu, wore a white shirt and had a veshti on his shoulders, when he came for the swearing in. He was escorted to the stage by the chief minister and the chief justice. After oath taking, the chief minister shook hands with the Governor. The chief minister had a smile on his face. The chief minister draped a shawl and gave him a bouquet. The chief minister introduced the ministers and people’s representatives to the Governor.

Arlekar received Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Raj Bhavan by presenting him a miniature of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar, where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment, and a shawl with a Madhubani painting that has a geographical indication. The chief minister's wife Kamala shared a friendly greeting with Arlekar's wife Anagha. Arlekar was given a guard of honour in front of Raj Bhavan before taking the oath.