The political standoff in Kerala escalated on Wednesday as Governor Arif Mohammed Khan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his ministers of having "no shame." In response, Vijayan retaliated, branding the Governor as an "opportunist" based on past perceptions.
According to PTI, Chief Minister Vijayan said, “A Governor should act like a Governor and not threaten us. Khan is the best example of an opportunist. It will be better for him to behave like a constitutional head.”
The Chief Minister said that the Governor is taking part in meetings which are organised by the RSS.
“Should he as Governor take part in such meetings,” the Chief Minister asked.
"He should only do what his office is permitted to do under the Constitution. Don't degrade the importance of the position he holds. It would be good if Arif Mohammed Khan, as an individual, understands this and acts accordingly," he said.
The Chief Minister of Kerala, along with his entire cabinet, has been on a state-wide tour covering all 140 assembly constituencies since November 27th.
The Governor has criticized the Kerala government, attributing the grim financial situation in the state to their actions. Speaking to the media in Delhi, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Chief Minister's understanding of the objective behind the statewide tour.
Questioning the necessity of the tour, the Governor stated, "Given the economic situation, people need solutions to their economic problems and not these tours."
Expressing regret for Kerala's financial state, the Governor highlighted the reliance on revenue from lottery ticket sales and liquor. He placed blame on the state government for the financial crisis.
The Governor's comments come at a time when the Vijayan government has approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the Centre is restricting funds for Kerala and hindering its ability to secure loans.
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