Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary M V Govindan unveiled a two-pronged strategy to cut Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to size.
On one hand, Govindan said the LDF would go to "any extent" to defeat the power excesses of the Governor; Govindan was essentially saying that the government would move even the Supreme Court to expose Khan's deeds. Already, the government has received legal advice to move the Supreme Court against the Governor's indefinite delay in giving his assent to bills passed by the Kerala Assembly, most notably the amendment to the University laws and Kerala Lok Ayukta Act.
Simultaneously, the party would create public awareness against the "sinister designs" of the Governor in the Higher Education sector. Govindan said a Higher Education Protection Council under the leadership of neurosurgeon, public health activist and Planning Board member Dr B Ekbal has been formed for the purpose.
The CPM state secretary said that the public awareness campaigns would culminate in a massive Raj Bhavan march on November 15.
CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury will inaugurate the march. Since the CPM has decided to enlist the DMK also in its fight against the Governor, the party's Rajya Sabha MP Thiruchi Silva has also been invited to the mass protest on November 15.
"On that day, all districts will have protest marches with mass participation," Govindan said
However, Govindan did not categorically state that the Governor would be stripped of his Chancellor's powers. "We have come to a situation where it is imminent that we seriously consider whether the Governor should continue to have this power," Govindan said.
The CPM leader also accused Congress of being a mere spectator as Khan undermines Kerala's universities.
Meanwhile, the BJP state unit has, quite naturally, not taken Govindan's remarks very kindly. It denounced the CPM camp for trying to threaten the governor.
The party state president K Surendran announced protests against the CPM-led government - on November 18 and 19. The CPM is trying to subvert the rule of law, Surendran alleged.
