THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s customary policy address, marking the commencement of the 16th session of the 15th Legislative Assembly, has courted controversy after the state government objected to omissions and alterations made to the speech, particularly those critical of the Union government.
After the Governor concluded reading the address and left the House, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly that Arlekar had not read the beginning of paragraph 12 and the ending of paragraph 15 of the cabinet-approved document.
One of the omitted portions stated: “Despite these social and institutional achievements, Kerala continues to face severe fiscal stress arising from a series of adverse Union Government actions that undermine the constitutional principles of fiscal federalism.” In the Governor’s version, this was modified with the prefix “My government feels” and the critical reference was replaced with the phrase “curtailment of advances”.
Another portion entirely omitted by the Governor read: “Bills passed by State legislatures have remained pending for prolonged periods. My Government has approached the Supreme Court on these issues, which have been referred to a Constitution Bench.”
The Governor also altered a section concerning tax devolution, which originally stated: “Tax devolution and Finance Commission grants are constitutional entitlements of states and not acts of charity.” In his version, Arlekar added “My government feels” and removed the words “acts of charity.”
Addressing the Assembly, Vijayan emphasised that the policy address approved by the state cabinet, printed and circulated to members, must be regarded as the official version. “The Assembly should only consider this version as the official policy address,” he said, citing constitutional principles and Assembly precedents.
Speaker A. N. Shamseer supported the Chief Minister’s position, stating that avoiding or adding portions to the cabinet-approved address is not officially recognised and that past precedents shall apply in this instance as well.