Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has sparked a political controversy after conducting a review meeting with senior government officials in Madurai, with opposition leaders accusing him of overstepping the constitutional role of the Governor and attempting to create a “parallel administration.” The meeting has reignited a long-standing debate over the limits of gubernatorial powers in the State.
During his visit to Madurai, Arlekar chaired a 90-minute review meeting attended by the District Collector, the City Police Commissioner, the Municipal Commissioner and other senior officials. The discussions covered public grievance redressal, digital governance, public health, school education, tuberculosis elimination, water body maintenance and the implementation of Central government schemes. In a separate session, he reviewed issues relating to women’s safety, child protection, anti-narcotics measures and road safety.
Earlier in the day, while addressing an event at Saurashtra College, the Governor expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the Vaigai River, stating that restoring rivers was an act of patriotism. He remarked that if no one took steps to revive the Vaigai, Lok Bhavan would intervene, a statement that drew sharp political criticism.
The review meeting assumed greater significance as it came a day after Arlekar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. Reports indicate that the Centre is working towards appointing a full-time Governor for Tamil Nadu before the proposed Union Cabinet reshuffle, adding to speculation surrounding the timing of the Governor’s administrative engagement.
Opposition leaders criticised the Governor’s actions, arguing that district administration falls within the executive authority of the elected State government. Madurai MP S. Venkatesan questioned why similar initiatives had not been proposed for the Cooum River in Chennai and alleged that the Governor’s intervention reflected an attempt to encroach upon the powers of the State administration. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin also accused the Governor of acting against the spirit of the Constitution and criticised the State government for allowing the review meeting to take place.
The controversy has revived memories of 2017, when then Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit held similar district-level review meetings that were strongly opposed by political parties, particularly the DMK, which alleged that Raj Bhavan was attempting to run a parallel administration. The latest episode has once again brought the constitutional role of the Governor into the centre of Tamil Nadu’s political discourse.
The Governor’s office has not indicated any change in its approach, while political debate over the constitutional limits of gubernatorial intervention is expected to continue in the coming days.
