CPM Secretariat criticises CM for yielding to Governor on VC appointments

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came under criticism within the CPM State Secretariat for having yielded to the Governor on the appointment of vice-chancellors to the Kerala Technological University and Digital University Kerala.

The Chief Minister held talks with the Governor on Sunday and arrived at a settlement. Objections were raised when he briefed the Secretariat on the issue at its meeting the following day.

Arriving late for the Secretariat meeting, the Chief Minister conveyed the compromise reached with the Governor in just a few words. This led some members to question whether such a move was necessary. Others cautioned that the decision could invite criticism similar to that faced by the party over the PM Shri scheme. It was also pointed out that conceding to the Governor while the matter is still pending before the Supreme Court does not align with the stand the party has taken so far.

However, the discussion did not proceed further after the Chief Minister clarified that the decision had been taken under special circumstances. Ministers P Rajeev and R Bindu too had earlier met the Governor over this issue, but those talks did not yield any understanding. They had also briefed the party on the meeting and its details. In the Chief Minister’s case, however, the party was informed only after a settlement had been reached, indicating that the compromise had been arrived at without taking the party into confidence.