Not implementing RSS agenda; ready to resign if proved otherwise: Kerala Governor
New Delhi (PTI): Strongly refuting allegations of politicising his constitutional position, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has said he is ready to resign if there is even one instance of him appointing anybody belonging to organisations that are considered "troublesome politically" by the state government.
As the bitter battle between him and the ruling LDF continues in the state, mainly over the appointment of Vice Chancellors to the universities, Khan also asserted that his job is to see that the business of the government is transacted in accordance with the law.
In an interview with PTI here this week, Khan, who has been the state's Governor for three years now, rejected concerns that his position was being politicised.
"Where is the politicisation? I said that for the last three years, you have been saying that I have been implementing RSS agenda. Give me one name, just one instance where I have appointed anybody belonging to organisations whom you find troublesome politically, RSS, BJP... give one name whom using my authority, I have named anybody on anybody or university, I will resign.
"It can be politicisation... if one does such things. I have not done nor is there any pressure on me to do so," he said.
Amid the ongoing tussle between him and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, Left parties on Tuesday conducted a protest march to the Raj Bhavan in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had said that there is a situation where the office of the Governor is pitted against the state governments.
"This matter of controlling education is an important aspect of the BJP-RSS political design to convert this secular democratic India into a fascistic Hindutva Rashtra of their liking and for that, they require to control education and the consciousness of our youth," Yechury had said.
In response to a question on his announcement last month that Finance Minister K N Balagopal "has ceased to enjoy my pleasure", the Governor during the interview said the minister tried to stoke the "fire of provincialism" with his comments.
Khan, in an unprecedented action that attracted strong criticism from the state's ruling as well as Opposition parties, had said that a minister who deliberately violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India "cannot continue to enjoy my pleasure". He had also sought "constitutionally appropriate" action against Balagopal and the demand was firmly turned down by the chief minister.
Elaborating on the issue during the interview, the Governor said that he had not withdrawn the pleasure just because the minister said something against him.
"He (Finance Minister) said how a person born in UP can have an understanding of the education system of Kerala. He is trying to stoke the fire of provincialism, of regionalism. He is challenging the unity of India... He is challenging the system, he is challenging the unity of India," Khan said.
He also noted that if somebody from Kerala tries to stoke the fires of provincialism, "how it will affect the Keralites working outside the state?".
About the minister still continuing in the position, the Governor said, "I do not have the power to remove him because it is the choice of the Chief Minister but I will at least let the people of Kerala know. This much I should do in order to discharge my duty, oath which I have taken to serve the interests of the people of Kerala".
In connection with the earlier episode of re-appointing the Kannur University Vice Chancellor which was cleared by him, the Governor said that he had admitted that he was wrong.
"The Advocate General, if you speak in moral and ethical terms, he should have resigned by now. It was he who misled me to believe that what they are asking me to do is not illegal... I put it on the file that what you are asking me to do in my opinion is not proper, it is not legal, it is irregular," Khan said.
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Vartha Bharati–Sankalp predictions align closely with Karnataka bypoll results
Bengaluru: The Vartha Bharati–Sankalp election analysis has shown a high level of accuracy in predicting the outcome of the recent Karnataka Assembly by-elections held in May 2026, correctly calling winners in both constituencies and closely estimating vote share trends.
The by-elections were held in Bagalkot and Davanagere South, drawing significant political attention as both seats were seen as key tests for the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.
According to the analysis, Vartha Bharati–Sankalp had made three major projections ahead of the results the winning party, vote share percentages, and margin of victory.
In both constituencies, the platform accurately predicted that the Congress would emerge victorious. The outcome matched the projections, with Congress candidates winning in Bagalkot and Davanagere South.
In terms of vote share, the predictions were largely in line with the final results. In Bagalkot, the BJP’s vote share was forecast in the range of 40 to 46 per cent, while the actual figure stood at 42.9 per cent. The Congress vote share, however, exceeded expectations, with the party securing 55.4 per cent against a projected range of 43 to 48 per cent.
The margin of victory in Bagalkot turned out to be significantly higher than anticipated. While the projection had placed the margin between 2,000 and 3,500 votes, the final margin was around 22,332 votes.
In Davanagere South, the predictions also remained largely accurate. The Congress vote share was projected between 43 and 51 per cent, and the final figure stood at 43.9 per cent. The BJP was expected to secure between 42 and 50 per cent but ended with 40.3 per cent.
The analysis had also identified the role of SDPI as a potential spoiler in the constituency. While its vote share was estimated around 6 per cent, the party eventually secured around 12 per cent of the vote.
The margin of victory in Davanagere South was predicted to be between 1,500 and 2,600 votes. The actual margin was higher at around 5,708 votes, though the contest remained relatively close as anticipated.
Overall, the performance of Vartha Bharati–Sankalp stood out for correctly identifying the winning parties in both seats and maintaining close accuracy in vote share estimates, with only limited deviations in specific cases.
