If being in the news is what is called excellence, then Arif Mohammad Khan ranks among the best Governors Kerala has ever seen. His most recent performance was at Nilamel in Kollam district. Enraged by the black flag protest by the SFI workers, Khan halted his journey and stepped out of his car. He then seated himself on a chair near a wayside tea shop and began protesting, which continued for nearly two hours. Only when the police handed over a copy of the FIR against the SFI members, on his asking, did Khan end his ‘protest’ and continued his journey. Soon thereafter came the announcement that the security of the Governor and the Raj Bhavan had been taken over by the Central Reserve Police Force. The other day, Khan was in the news for delivering his policy address at the new session of the state assembly, within the shortest time. He wrapped up his speech in less than two minutes. Last December, his appearance was in SM street, in Kozhikode. There again, his performance was adherence to any safety protocol. The provocation was the black flag protest of the SFI workers even then. The protestors approached the Governor's car and raised slogans accusing him, who is also the chancellor, of filling university senates with Sangh Parivar members. Khan stepped out of the car and accused the Chief Minister of conspiring to physically assault him with the help of goons. He has been repeating that allegation this time as well. In 2022, Khan made headlines by stating that the finance minister of the state K N Balagopal had ‘ceased to enjoy his pleasure’. Khan then wrote to the Chief Minister, demanding a proper decision as to what should be done with the minister, which the Chief Minister rejected in no time.
Those at the helm of the administration seem to be making a habit of dealing with everything from trivial matters to protests with intolerance and undemocratic tyranny. In this regard, it is not only Governor Khan, but even Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who fails to set a good example. The practice of appointing people in universities based on political interests was not set by Khan but different governments. This has increased under the present government. That way, not all the allegations made by the Governor in this regard are baseless. It is not only the Governor who is anti-democratic when it comes to intolerance towards protests, black flags and even the colour black. Pinarayi had earlier sparked controversy when his own party members attacked the protestors and he referred to it as a rescue operation. Considering this, Governor Khan alone cannot be blamed.
But the problem is that the Governor's actions are not just about anger. His responses vary from the childish to the politically motivated. Minister Balagopal said at a function that those who “come from places like Uttar Pradesh, may find it tough to understand universities in Kerala”. This was the reason the Governor ‘withdrew his pleasure’ in the minister. He even found Balagopal’s comments a threat to the country’s unity and integrity. This was besides the charges of regionalism and tarnishing the Governor's image. Khan had warned the ministers in advance to speak cautiously so as to ensure that the Governor would not withdraw his 'pleasure' in the ministers. The language he uses for all this is far from democratic. His choice of words including on law and order deterioration and collapse of the administration system might be a hidden strategy to pave the way for the Centre to move against the state government.
The government and the chief minister are elected by the people while the Governor is appointed by the Union Government. A number of recent court judgments have directed the ‘unelected’ governors not to undermine the elected governments. In states ruled by non-NDA governments, there are increasing instances of Governors acting in a way that is inconsistent with the essence of the Constitution. The court also warned the governors against creating hurdles in administration without signing the legislative bills approved by the cabinet. Now providing the security of the central forces for the Governor is also an interference in governance. It is evident that the Governor, who stepped out of his car upon seeing the protesting students and rushed towards them in anger, would not have done so if there had been a big security threat. This is nothing short of a political game. And the Governor is becoming just a pawn in it.