Governor Arif Mohammed Khan appeared to persist in pressing a debatably competing course of action against the ruling front by forewarning on Saturday that any governmental action to "control the Raj Bhavan would lead to a constitutional crisis".
Speaking to the media, Mr. Khan appeared not to hide his discontent with the State government for "circulating scepticism" about the rightfulness of Raj Bhavan's controversial decision to appoint a senior journalist and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fellow traveller Hari S. Kartha as the Additional Personal Assistant.
On Thursday, an allegedly "offended" Mr. Khan had put the government on tenterhooks by tentatively withholding his assent to the policy address for the next fiscal.
The Raj Bhavan had mainly felt miffed that Principal Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), K.R. Jyothilal, had "brazenly breached" protocol by "tactlessly" informing the Governor in writing that there was no precedent for appointing persons active in politics in the Raj Bhavan.
Ostensibly under severe duress to avert a constitutional stalemate, the government "placated" Mr. Khan by shifting Mr. Jyothilal out of the post on the Assembly session's eve. Consequently, Mr. Khan approved the policy statement.
In a contestably oblique criticism of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who helms the GAD, Mr. Khan said: "I know for sure a secretary cannot write that letter on his own. I told the administration I would not accept it. Officers are poor things tasked to carry out the government's instructions. I had not asked for his head. I have notified the administration to find out who was behind the letter and take appropriate action. Otherwise, we are heading towards a constitutional crisis".
Mr. Khan disclosed he had urged Mr. Vijayan to "scrap" the proposal to extend pension to political appointees in ministerial offices after a minimum tenure of two-and-a-half years. He wanted the decision included in the policy address.
Mr. Khan pointed out that State employees had to pay a part of their salary to earn a pension. In contrast, the government had given party "johnnies" a free ride at the taxpayer's expense inequitably.
"I have called for the file. I am going to pursue the matter. It is an anti-constitutional abuse of authority and misuse of people's money. I am not going to let the issue rest. I have also informed the CAG", he said.
