CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Thursday, shortly after the latter formally assumed office as the full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu.
The meeting came following President Droupadi Murmu’s October 12 appointment of Arlekar as the full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu and Om Prakash Mathur, who was serving as Sikkim Governor, as the Governor of Kerala. The reshuffle ended Arlekar’s dual responsibility of overseeing Tamil Nadu and Kerala, leaving him to discharge duties exclusively in Tamil Nadu.
Arlekar had been holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu since March 12, when his predecessor, R N Ravi, was appointed Governor of West Bengal. He was sworn in as the State’s 27th Governor on March 12 and formally assumed full-time charge on Thursday.
The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the relationship between the Lok Bhavan and the State government. In September, Arlekar gave his assent to 12 of the 13 Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly during the first Budget session of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Vijay. The Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill was reserved for the President’s consideration.
This marked a contrast with the strained relationship between the previous DMK government, headed by M K Stalin, and then Governor R N Ravi. Their differences over policy issues and delays in granting assent to Bills passed by the Assembly had triggered repeated confrontations and legal disputes.
Arlekar, too, had faced political criticism in July following remarks he reportedly made in Madurai on the rejuvenation of the Vaigai river. He had called on younger people to take part in environmental conservation and indicated that Lok Bhavan might have to intervene if there was no initiative to revive the river. The remarks sparked a political controversy.
Vijay’s meeting with the Governor came two days after the Chief Minister publicly congratulated Arlekar on his appointment, expressing hope that his tenure would contribute to Tamil Nadu’s development, protect the State’s rights and promote public welfare.
Arlekar, who previously served as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Kerala, took over as Tamil Nadu Governor in March this year after Ravi’s transfer to West Bengal. His full-time appointment now places the constitutional head of the State exclusively in charge of Tamil Nadu.
