LDF sees divisions in UDF on government’s stand-off with Governor

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) appears keen on perceiving a disagreement in the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) over the issue of endorsing Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s resolve to seek the resignation of Vice Chancellors of nine universities, citing violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms in their appointment.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleges that Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has found himself isolated in the UDF for lauding Mr. Khan’s “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-sponsored” move to take over universities.

Local Self-Governments Minister M.B. Rajesh says Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders P.K. Kunhalikutty and E.T. Mohammed Basheer have taken an informed position and rejected the Raj Bhavan’s trespasses on the jurisdictional autonomy of universities. Mr. Rajesh claims that other UDF constituents and top Congress leaders have found a common cause with the LDF government. He accuses Mr. Satheesan of embracing a blinkered attitude to spite the government.

Support

The LDF also glimpses some support in the statements of All India Congress Committee (AICC) organising secretary K.C. Venugopal and former president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee K. Muraleedharan. Both say the Congress has consistently opposed the Centre’s Machiavellian attempts to use Governors to destabilise non-Bharatiya Janata Party-led State governments.

Mr. Satheesan claims the UDF is united on the issue and says the continuance of the Vice Chancellors selected by a process deemed illegal by the Supreme Court is constitutionally ill-founded and therefore has no legal effect from inception (void ab initio). The legal certainty is not outspoken advocacy of Mr. Khan’s RSS agenda as propagandised by the LDF. On the contrary, the Supreme Court’s cancellation of M.S. Rajasree’s appointment as Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) has vindicated the UDF’s stance. The UDF has repeatedly questioned the LDF government’s sly move to insert their favourites into Vice Chancellor positions by browbeating search committees into proposing one candidate instead of the required three or five as mandated by the UGC.

He says the government has brought the damning Supreme Court verdict on itself by its imperious behaviour. The government also violated the UGC edict that search committees for Vice Chancellor selection comprise only academicians not affiliated with the university to obviate any conflict of interest. Instead, it installed politically pliable bureaucrats in the panel.