VS says not officially invited to swearing-in ceremony, Govt. refutes

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, who was conspicuous by his absence at the Governor’s oath taking ceremony along with the other LDF leaders, said on Friday that he was not officially invited for the function.

The CPI-M veteran said he did not attend the function as there was no intimation about it.

“I don’t know why I was not given an official invitation. The letter hasn’t reached at the official residence of the Opposition leader,” Achuthanandan said.

However, government said the charge that the Opposition leader was not invited for the function was factually incorrect.

An official release said Achuthanandan was officially invited for the function and also a seat for him was reserved in the front row at Raj Bhavan.

Former Chief Justice of India Palanisamy Sathasivam on Friday assumed office as 23rd Governor of Kerala, succeeding Sheila Dikshit.

65-year-old Justice Sathasivam, whose appointment triggered debate in legal and political circles on the propriety of giving gubernatorial assignment to a former CJI, was administered the oath of office by Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Justice Ashok Bhushan, at a simple function held at the Raj Bhavan here.

Saraswathy Sathasivam, wife of the Governor, was also present on the occasion.

Sathasivam is the first retired CJI to become a Governor of a state.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha P J Kurien and state Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan were present.