Kummanam’s entry to the Raj Bhawan was a rare sight. The officers and staff were surprised to see the governor-designate walking into the Raj Bhawan without the usual paraphernalia.Pathanamthitta: Kummanam Rajasekharan's first visit to his home state Kerala after being appointed governor of Mizoram will be a high-profile event. The former BJP state president’s week-long visit will keep the security agencies busy from Thursday.
Z-plus security for Kummanam
As a governor, Kummanam enjoys Z-plus category security. Hundred armed CRPF secure the Raj Bhavan premises of Aizwal. Another 50 commandos from the Assam Rifles are on standby, apart from state police and intelligence officers in plainclothes.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter is at the governor's disposal on the Raj Bhawan campus. An IPS officer and a CRPF officer in the inspector-general rank camp at the Raj Bjawan to coordinate security.
A senior IAS officer heads a mini secretariat with about 50 personnel to get things done for the governor. Kummanam gets an routine briefing from the state intelligence chief.
The kitchen is manned by eight cooks. Kummanam can make his culinary choices but he can't relish them before senior officers taste it. A doctor, a medical team, and an ambulance always accompany the governor.
"Some people may view this as fortunate. Not me though. I want to work among poor people and understand their problems. If I were after power, I would not have quit my job with the Food Corporation of India," Kummanam said.
"Mizoram is full of poor people and farmers. My mission is to work with them for their development. This heightened security stems from the fact that the state shares borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh. The military is in direct charge of security," he said.
Kummanam's entry to the Raj Bhawan was a rare sight. The officers and staff were surprised to see the governor-designate walk in without the usual paraphernalia.
The Mizoram governor has some additional administrative responsibilities since three districts are under the direct control of the central government.
Rajasekhara Bhawan
"You get idli and dosa in the Raj Bhawan. I asked for puttu but they did know not how to make it. They are learning it though. There is no temple or prayer room in the building. I just meditate for some time every morning. Some friends from Kerala have named Raj Bhawan as Rajasekhara Bhawan," he said.
Kummanam attended a conference of governors in Delhi recently. He had drawn up a plan for the state, which consisted mainly of transport requirements. "Mizoram lacks transport facilities. There are two flights a week to Delhi and a daily flight to Kolkata. There are no trains. Almost 88 per cent of the state is under forest cover. The state is something like Munnar," Kummanam said.
Mizoram has 12 lakh inhabitants, according to the 2011 census. The local Malayali association had a membership of 300 at one point. Now the group has hardly 60 members. They had paid a visit to the first citizen of their adopted state.
The governor cannot be away from Mizoram for more than 10 days. He will return to Aizwal on June 20 after attending various programmes in Kerala. He is scheduled to visit the Sabarimala Temple on June 15.
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