As the debate over poet and Kerala Sahitya Akademi president K. Satchidanandan’s remarks on the change in government refused to die down, actor Premkumar has added fuel to the fire, alleging double standards on the part of the government in his “removal” from the post of chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
Mr. Premkumar told reporters that he was denied justice when he was “removed” from the post of academy chairman. He repeated that he was not informed about the decision and learned about it from the media.
‘Hurried Transition’
The government, he said, had the option of bringing in another team, but he felt the transition was done in haste because he didn’t even get a chance to thank those who worked with him. Let alone to be properly expelled, he was not even hinted that he was no longer the president of the academy. “This propriety was not observed in my case.
He claimed that he saw no other reason for his departure apart from his remarks expressing support for the ASHA workers who were then protesting.
While expressing respect for Mr. Satchidanandan, Mr. Premkumar questioned why the poet, who headed another prominent cultural institution, continued in his post despite scathing remarks about the “dangers of prolonged rule and monopoly of power”. In a Facebook post, Mr. Premkumar claimed that Mr. Satchidanandan was allowed to continue in the post even though his tenure had long since ended. This was a matter of justice being denied to him, Mr. Premkumar said.
Minister’s answer
In response to the actor’s allegations, Culture Minister Saji Cherian clarified in a statement that the government respects the rights of cultural activists associated with government systems to express their views, even if they differ from those of the government or the Left Democratic Front. Nor did it insist that they should always get along. The government has always seen the views of either Mr. Satchidanandan or Mr. Premkumar as a personal view. “The government has no policy of sidelining anyone for expressing their views,” Mr Cherian said.
The Minister reiterated that the change in the management of Chalachitra Academy did not result from Mr. Premkumar’s attitude or views. Mr. Premkumar performed his duties efficiently and satisfactorily. However, once the governing body completed its term, a new team was introduced as a routine procedure. He was not removed from office. Mr. Premkumar seems to have misunderstood what happened, the minister said.
Published – 14 Feb 2026 19:29 IST