Fresh Take on Govt-Guv Bond as Arlekar Bats for 'Team Kerala'

Governor's unprecedented moves set off shock waves in the UDF and BJP in state

- KS SREEJITH @T'Puram

AT a time when relations between the Centre and the LDF government in the state have hit a low, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has initiated steps — seen as historic — to help them reconnect.

On Wednesday, Arlekar set aside protocol to be present at a meeting between Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This came a day after another unprecedented move, when the governor called a meeting of members of Parliament (MPs) from the state and Vijayan.

The moves have set off shock waves in the UDF and the BJP. Arlekar was an RSS leader prior to being named a minister in Goa. His predecessor as Kerala governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, had a bitter relationship with the LDF-led state government. Many of Arif's actions forced the state government to approach courts and tit-for-tat steps and statements were common between the two.