Kerala Governor and State Government Clash Over Bharat Mata Portrait Controversy

Tensions have sharply risen between Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the state's Left government. The latest controversy erupted after Education Minister V Sivankutty protested by walking out of a Raj Bhavan event, objecting to the display of a Bharat Mata portrait, an image often linked to the RSS.

Raj Bhavan labeled Sivankutty's actions as a severe breach of protocol, while the Minister accused the Governor of politicizing a government programme. This incident follows a previous boycott by Agriculture Minister P Prasad over similar concerns, intensifying the ideological tussle between the Governor and the state government.

As criticism mounts from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's administration, opposition leaders also chime in, arguing that the government should have addressed the issue sooner. The ongoing dispute underscores the deeply rooted tensions over ideological symbolism in Kerala's official functions.

(With inputs from agencies.)