Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, on Tuesday, approved Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recommendation to re-induct CPI-M leader Saji Cherian into the LDF Government.
Saji Cherian will be sworn in as minister at a ceremony to be held at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday at 4 pm.
Meanwhile, Governor Khan said he had agreed to the swearing-in of saji Cherian on the basis of the chief minister’s recommendation.
“The swearing-in ceremony will be held on Wednesday. I have informed the chief minister about what I have to say. I am not planning to discuss this on public forums. The decision was taken on the basis of CM’s recommendation,” the Governor said.
It has been reported that the Governor granted the permission for the swearing-in of saji Cherian with extreme disapproval. Sources said he didn’t want to create a crisis by going against the Constitution, which directs the Governor to swear in the person recommended by the chief minister.
It has been reported that the Governor has received legal opinion from the Raj Bhavan standing counsel stating that he (Governor) cannot reject the name of a minister suggested by the chief minister. According to a legal advice received by the Raj Bhavan, it is the constitutional responsibility of the Governor to swear in the person nominated by the chief minister.
On Monday, Governor Khan had said Saji Cherian’s cabinet entry is different from a normal induction into the cabinet. “In normal circumstances it’s essential for the Governor to accept the recommendation of the chief minister. But this is not a normal case. He’s not being inducted for the first time. This is a totally different case. The charge against him was that he tried to lower the dignity of the Constitution,” he added.
Saji Cherian had resigned from the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet on 6 July after his alleged anti-constitutional speech during an event at Mallappally in Patahnamthitta that sparked a row.