The appointment of Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) at Digital University Kerala and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, along with the nomination of a senate candidate for the Calicut University VC selection committee, has sparked speculation that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government will reach a tacit agreement with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on the appointment.
Although the government has remained tight-lipped about its strategy, a flurry of informal discussions suggests a renewed push to make permanent appointments in all universities, which have been headed by interim VCs for several years.
The Calicut University senate selected State Planning Board member R. Ramakumar for the cum search selection committee after the Kerala High Court issued an ultimatum for the process. Two nominees previously appointed to the panel denied responsibility. Professor Ramakumar’s nomination paved the way for the possible appointment of the VC as early as January, official sources said.
Other varieties
Similar developments could soon take place in other universities, including Kerala University and Mahatma Gandhi University, starting with the nomination of members to their respective search committees. Earlier attempts in this regard were stalled, allegedly in line with the LDF’s political stance at the time.
As the development comes closer to a conciliatory meeting between the Governor and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Opposition claims that there has been a “secret understanding”.
All India Congress Committee General Secretary KC Venugopal questioned the Governor’s change in stance on the appointment of the VC. Mr. Venugopal said that the Governor had earlier rejected the Chief Minister’s recommendation saying that the proposed candidate was not eligible and that there were serious allegations against him. “However, the same person was later approved for the post. This raises serious questions about the circumstances that led to the change in the governor’s rating,” he told the media on Friday.
The Congress leader also claimed that the confrontations that took place earlier between the governor and the chief minister were mere drama and that the current consensus points to mediation from “higher levels”.
According to him, the development is part of what the Congress describes as an undercurrent of political understanding between the CPI(M) and the BJP. “The people of Kerala have a right to know the truth behind such compromises, especially when the matter has sparked widespread violence and also threatened to jeopardize the future of students,” Mr. Venugopal said.
Published – 19 Dec 2025 21:19 IST
