CPI MP writes to President alleging misuse of Governor’s office in Opposition-ruled States

Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala P. Sandosh Kumar on Friday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu alleging “misuse” of gubernatorial authority in the Opposition-ruled States.

Mentioning a recent incident in Kerala where a portrait of ‘Bharat Mata’ was used in an event at Raj Bhavan, leading to a boycott of the function by a State Minister, Mr. Kumar expressed serious concern over the “continued misuse of gubernatorial authority in the Opposition-ruled States.”

Mr. Kumar said it was most recently reflected in the conduct of the Kerala Governor during the Environment Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan, where a “particular version of the Bharat Mata image” was displayed without consulting the State government.

“The arbitrary imposition of a particular version of the Bharat Mata image – without consultation with the elected government – forced Agriculture Minister P. Prasad to boycott the event,” Mr. Kumar said.

Claiming that it was not an isolated episode, the CPI leader said, “We are witnessing a pattern where Governors in States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu repeatedly act as political agents, converting Raj Bhavans into ideological outposts of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), disregarding constitutional norms, federal principles and the mandate of democratically elected governments.”

He alleged that the Kerala incident also “potentially contravened” the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, “by misusing national symbols for political or sectarian purposes”.

‘Reimagined symbols’

“The Bharat Mata image, originally envisioned by Abanindranath Tagore during the Swadeshi movement as a unifying emblem of anti-colonial resistance, has in recent years been altered and weaponised by an organisation notorious for its divisive politics. It is unacceptable that such reimagined and controversial symbols are now being forced upon official functions and public institutions, further polarising our society,” Mr. Kumar alleged.

The CPI leader urged the President to “take serious note of this trend and take immediate steps to ensure that Governors do not overstep their constitutional mandate”.

Published - June 06, 2025 07:04 pm IST