Amidst an ongoing, prolonged disagreement between the CPI(M)-led LDF government and the Raj Bhavan on various crucial matters, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially released the inaugural issue of Rajahams—the Kerala Raj Bhavan’s official quarterly journal—on Sunday, September 28, 2025. During the release, he clarified that the State government does not necessarily endorse all the perspectives presented within the publication.
Presenting the first copy to MP Shashi Tharoor, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also in attendance, Mr. Vijayan stated that divergent viewpoints do not perturb the State government. He suggested that articles expressing opinions contrary to the government’s stance might well feature in the Raj Bhavan journal, reflecting Kerala society’s deep-rooted value for open discourse and robust debate.
Specifically, Mr. Vijayan drew attention to an article in the debut issue titled ‘Article 200 and a Constitutional Conundrum.’ He pointed out that while the article’s contents might represent the author, Adv Sreekumar, the Governor’s Legal Advisor, it doesn’t automatically mean these are the State government’s official views. This particular article explores Article 200 of the Constitution, which defines the powers of Governors concerning bills passed by State Legislatures.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the mere inclusion of views in the Raj Bhavan’s official journal should not create an impression that the government inherently agrees with them. He posed a fundamental question: “Should dissent be embraced or stifled?” Asserting Kerala’s position, he stated, “Kerala has a government that believes the former is essential. Our rich renaissance heritage has fostered a public sphere that welcomes dissent and conflicting ideas. As the government is committed to upholding this heritage, differences of opinion rarely cause it concern.”
The Absence of the Bharat Mata Motif
Notably, the Bharat Mata motif, a contentious symbol whose display at Raj Bhavan events has caused bitter disputes between the government and the Raj Bhavan, was conspicuously absent from Sunday’s ceremony.
From Raj Bhavans to ‘Lok Bhavans’
Mr. Arlekar reiterated the necessity for Raj Bhavans—the official residences of Governors—to become more accessible to the general populace. He recalled a prior suggestion he made at a Governors’ Conference: that these institutions should be renamed ‘Lok Bhavans’ (People’s Houses). He observed that historically, Raj Bhavans often felt ‘fort-like,’ giving the public little insight into their inner workings. However, he noted, this situation has evolved. What’s now required, he stressed, is a “two-way traffic” of mutual concern between the Raj Bhavan and the citizens.
Mr. Tharoor concurred, expressing widespread agreement that the Raj Bhavan should not operate as a “distant institution” from the people. Echoing his own earlier advocacy for renaming them Lok Bhavans, Mr. Tharoor described them as establishments that truly belong to the people—institutions designed to listen, reflect, and share. He voiced optimism that the new official quarterly would serve as a vital link, bridging “the governance of the State and the governed of the State.”
During the event, Mohanan Kunnummal, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kerala, and M. Junaid Bushiri, Vice Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology, were honored. Their respective universities recently achieved top National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings and high National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grades.
This joint appearance by Mr. Vijayan and Mr. Arlekar occurred amidst ongoing tensions, including disputes over the display of the Bharat Mata image at official functions and the Governor’s pending assent on several bills passed by the State Legislative Assembly.