The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) on February 29 (Thursday) sought to portray the Presidential assent to the Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill as an oblique critique of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s “obstinate refusal” to sign laws passed by the Legislative Assembly.
However, Raj Bhavan in Kerala appeared to punch holes in the LDF’s narrative. It pointedly stressed its stance on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with the post: “It is informed that the Hon’ble President of India has withheld assent to three Bills which Hon’ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan had referred to Rashtrapati Bhavan for consideration”.
These included Kerala University Laws (Amendment) Bill seeking to divest the Governor of the power of the Chancellor of State universities.
