T’puram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan met governor Rajendra V Arlekar at Raj Bhavan on Sunday evening amid rising problems at universities in Kerala. The face-to-face meeting lasted nearly an hour from 3:30pm. It came at a time when the higher education sector is facing legal administrative and political challenges.Sources said they discussed issues like vice-chancellor appointments as well as the fate of university amendment bills. These bills were passed by the state assembly but withheld by the governor. Official statements from Raj Bhavan and the chief minister’s office did not reveal the meeting’s agenda. However it is learned that the govt’s plan to appoint interim VCs to new digital and technical universities was also discussed. The governor must approve the panel recommended for these appointments.The meeting came after a recent flashpoint between the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the governor. SFI had protested against Arlekar’s comments on a Bharat Mata picture with a saffron flag. This protest triggered fresh tensions between the governor and the govt. The timing of the meeting close to the SFI agitation gave a political edge to what is usually a procedural meeting.Though the meeting has political significance it also followed protocol. Usually chief ministers meet governors after foreign trips to update them. Vijayan had returned from a medical visit to the United States. Though Vijayan and Arlekar were both at Kerala House a few days earlier they did not meet there. This added to speculation about their strained ties.Vijayan’s Raj Bhavan visit is usually routine after foreign travel but now has a wider political meaning. The govt and the governor have often clashed over university governance including legislative autonomy and chancellorship powers. Sunday’s talks likely covered more than just formal matters.
