BJP’s Kerala president K Surendran, on Friday, said that the Congress took a U-turn on the bill to remove the governor from the position of chancellor under the influence of the Muslim League, a constituent of the UDF.

He said the Congress, which initially opposed the bill, changed its stance under the influence of the Muslim League and that the Congress has no guts to stand its earlier decision.

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Calling the change in the stance of the  Congress a betrayal of the people, the BJP leader said by the decision of the  Congress to support the bill, it is now very much clear that the Muslim League is  controlling the UDF and that the Congress can’t take a decision on its own.

Stating that Muslim League is a party that has been running a campaign against Governor Arif Muhammad Khan since the time of Shah Banu case in 1986, Surendran said fundamentalism and misogyny are the basis of Muslim League’s attitudes. Opposition leader VD Satheesan surrendering to Muslim League is tantamount to surrendering to religious fundamentalism, Surendran said in a statement here.

He said the Opposition supporting the government’s undemocratic acts are not being seen elsewhere   in the country. By removing the Governor as chancellor, the government intends to strengthen back door appointments. VD Satheesan and Congress are now coming in support of it, he added.

Meanwhile, it is reported that there are discord within the Congress over its decision to support the government’s bill to remove the Governor from the position of chancellor of the state’s universities. Though a section in the Congress is against supporting the bill to remove the Governor as chancellor,they refrained from making their opinion public as UDF has taken a decision in this regard. However, Congress’s decision to support the bill has created a rift within it. It may be noted that the Congress has initially opposed the bill.

The LDF government in Kerala on Wednesday introduced the University Laws (Amendment) Bill in the Assembly to replace the Governor as the Chancellor of universities in the state and appoint eminent academicians in the post.

The Opposition Congress then alleged that the bill flouted UGC guidelines and was carelessly prepared.Opposition leader VD Satheesan said that the Supreme Court set aside the appointment of Rajasree MS as Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological university for violating the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. Therefore, introducing a bill that violates UGC norms will only lead to more problems in the future.