Fresh tensions as CM challenges Khan’s authority to summon officials

Thiruvananthapuram: A fresh dispute has arisen between governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the state govt, with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan asserting that the governor lacks the authority to summon officials without prior notification to the govt. In response to a directive from the state, both the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP), who had been called to meet the governor at 4 pm on Tuesday, refrained from attending the meeting.
Khan had summoned the officials to discuss recent remarks made by the chief minister regarding Malappuram, as well as phone tapping allegations raised by MLA PV Anvar. However, the state govt decided not to comply with the governor's request, deeming it a violation of established procedures. In a letter to the governor, the CM stressed that such actions were beyond the governor's jurisdiction.
The governor's intervention was prompted by the CM's alleged remarks suggesting that funds from gold smuggling and hawala transactions in Malappuram were allegedly being used for anti-national activities. Despite an earlier letter from the governor seeking a formal report on the chief minister's remarks, the govt had not responded, leading the governor to request an in-person explanation from the officials.