Kerala Governor says he can sack errant Ministers

Arif Mohammed Khan’s tweet sparks protests from ruling and Opposition party leaders who accused him of overstepping constitutional limits

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday opened the next battlefront against the State government by threatening to remove Ministers from their posts if they continued to lower the dignity of his office.

In an official tweet, Mr. Khan said: "The CM and Council of Ministers have every right to advise the governor. But statements of individual ministers that lower the dignity of the governor's office can invite action including withdrawal of pleasure".

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu's remark on Mr. Khan's refusal to sign the University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022 into law seemed to have provoked the Raj Bhavan.

Dr. Bindu suggested Mr. Khan return the Bill for legislative review instead of withholding assent indefinitely.

The tweet sparked protests from ruling and Opposition party leaders who accused Mr. Khan of overstepping constitutional limits. The BJP emerged as the sole voice of support for the Governor.

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau said the tweet exposed Mr. Khan's political bias and hostility towards the LDF government. Mr. Khan's conduct ill behoved the Governor's constitutional stature. The Constitution did not vest Governors with dictatorial powers. Kerala Raj Bhavan had challenged the very foundation of Indian democracy.

CPI(M) State secretary M. V. Govindan said Mr. Khan's tweet indicated brazen ignorance of the Constitution and principles of parliamentary democracy. He said Governors were bound by the advice of the Chief Minister in matters relating to the appointment and dismissal of Ministers.