Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Saturday lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over alleged political interference in state universities and urged him to transfer the powers of the Chancellor to the CM.

Writing about the political appointments in Universities of the state, Governor AM Khan told CM Vijayan: “My advice to you is to amend Acts of universities and you personally assume the position of Chancellor, so that you can carry out your political objectives without any dependence on Governor.”

“You can ask Advocate General to prepare a legal document through which the Governor can transfer the powers of Chancellor to the CM. I request you to act urgently as it has become impossible for me as Chancellor to protect the universities from political interference,” he added.

Khan said he was deeply pained, especially when the retiring Vice Chancellor of the Kannur University Gopinath Raveendran was given a four-year extension, last month.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennilatha said finally even the Governor himself has become aware of the manner in which things are happening in Kerala.

“The government is trying to politicise the higher education system in the state for the last 5 years. We are raising this issue but the govt did not take it seriously. Now the Governor has raised very serious allegations against the government,” said the Congress leader.

The Congress and the BJP have been at loggerheads after a Vice Chancellor in the state was given an extension after attaining superannuation. It came at a time when a controversy broke out that rules were bent to appoint the wife of Vijayan’s Secretary to a teaching post at Kannur University.

On Friday, as a follow up to his letter, emissaries tried their best to pacify Khan, when Chief Secretary V.P.Joy called on Khan and later State Finance Minister K.N.Balagopal also called on him, but Khan stood his ground. Reportedly, Vijayan, who is presiding over his party meetings at his home town in Kannur, is likely to speak to Khan later in the day.