CPI(M) accuses UDF government of ceding executive power to ‘RSS-controlled’ Lok Bhavan
The CPI(M) has accused the Kerala UDF government of surrendering executive authority to the RSS-controlled Lok Bhavan. The party claims the government is failing to protect constitutional prerogatives against gubernatorial overreach.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing tensions between state governments and governors in India, raising concerns about the balance of power and political polarization.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Kerala State secretariat on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of voluntarily ceding the reins of administration to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-controlled Lok Bhavan, without even a whimper of protest.
CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said it was startling and politically revelatory that the UDF had not, so far, raised any objection to Keralam Governor Rajendra Arlekar summoning the State Police Chief, brazenly sidestepping the constitutionally mandated executive prerogative of the elected government.
In contrast, Mr. Govindan said, the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had objected in writing several times to stymie Lok Bhavan’s repeated attempts to trespass on the constitutional provision, which severely restricted the Governor’s discretionary powers and stringently bound the gubernatorial office’s exercise of authority to the counsel of the Council of Ministers.
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