Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Wednesday asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to remove Finance Minister KN Balagopal from the cabinet.
He ‘withdrew pleasure’ for Balagopal to continue in the office, citing recent remarks by the minister against the governor.
As per Article 164 of the Indian Constitution,the chief minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
Chief minister outrightly denied the demands.
Earlier, KN Balagopal openly criticised the governor during a speech and remarked that those hailing from “Uttar Pradesh won’t understand the situation in Kerala.” The statement is said to have irked governor.
Khan last week had threatened Chief Minister and cabinet ministers over their remarks targeting him and his office. In a tweet shared, he warned that strict action would follow if state cabinet ministers and CM issued statements that “lower the dignity of the office of the Governor.”
“The CM and Council of Ministers have every right to advise Governor.But statements of individual ministers that lower the dignity of the office of the Governor,can invite action including withdrawal of pleasure,” the tweet read.
Kerala Governor asks chief minister to sack minister KN Balagopal; Pinarayi declines added by Webdesk on
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