Kerala’s Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar became the focal point of a fierce political battle on Saturday when BJP heavyweights submitted a petition challenging the cabinet’s Lokpal appointment for local governance bodies.
Leading the charge were state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and general secretary Advocate S. Suresh. During their Raj Bhavan visit, they presented irrefutable arguments rooted in Section 5(3) of the Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999—a clause that forbids ex-Lokayuktas from lucrative government-linked roles.
Justice (Retd.) Babu Mathew P. Joseph, the appointee, stands accused of breaching this rule, as the Lokpal position carries a government salary and oversight duties. The BJP’s letter pulls no punches: ‘The prohibition is absolute, leaving zero scope for creative readings.’ They predict any such move will crumble under judicial review.
At stake is more than one appointment; it’s the sanctity of watchdog institutions. The party fears that lax standards could compromise the impartiality essential for monitoring local self-governments, eroding citizen confidence in fair administration.
In a direct plea, the leaders invoked the Governor’s constitutional authority to remand the decision back to the cabinet for legal vetting. This strategic outreach reflects BJP’s growing activism in Kerala, positioning it as a defender of statutory discipline amid opposition dominance.
Raj Bhavan’s X post verified the interaction, underscoring the invocation of the 1999 Act. As deliberations unfold, Kerala’s political landscape braces for potential ripples, with implications for how oversight roles are filled statewide.