Congress and CPI Criticize Tamil Nadu Governor R V Arlekar Over Alleged Bias

The Congress and CPI have stepped up their criticism of Tamil Nadu Governor R V Arlekar, accusing him of adopting a biased approach and questioning his administrative agenda. Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) headquarters in Chennai, TNCC president Manickam Tagore questioned the Governor's recent actions, which included inviting public grievances against the TVK government.

The political backlash comes a day after the DMK, AIADMK, and BJP submitted what Tagore described as 'identical' complaints against the TVK government to the Governor. This coordinated effort, according to Tagore, has raised significant doubts about the motivations behind the complaints. Tagore held a meeting with TNCC functionaries at the party's Chennai headquarters before addressing reporters about the developments.

According to Tagore, the Governor's attitude shifted noticeably after he met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi last week. The Congress leader pointed out that although Arlekar serves as the Governor for both Tamil Nadu and Kerala, his administrative interventions have been limited to Tamil Nadu.

Tagore questioned why the Governor has invited people to register their grievances at Lok Bhavan in Tamil Nadu but has not made any similar announcement or solicitation for complaints in Kerala. He demanded to know the specific agenda behind the unilateral decision.

The dispute also follows a recent meeting between Governor Arlekar and senior district officers in Madurai. During that visit, the Governor declared that Lok Bhavan would step in to clean the Vaigai river if local authorities failed to take adequate measures.

While district officials characterized the Madurai meeting as a mere courtesy call, the Governor's comments and direct engagement with local bureaucrats drew a sharp response from the TVK government. State allies, including the Congress and CPI, have characterized these moves as direct interference in the state's administration, sparking an ongoing political controversy.