Thiruvananthapuram: Governor AM Khan will skip the valedictory function of the weeklong government-sponsored Onam festivities on Sept 12 as the government didn’t extend a customary invite this year. Raj Bhavan sources said Khan will be celebrating Onam with Adivasi tribal colony inhabitants in Palakkad on Sept 12.
Generally, the governor and his/her spouse would be the chief guest at the valedictory function of Onam celebrations that end with a colourful procession.
A special pavilion is usually set up at Palayam for the governor and spouse to watch the procession at close quarters. As per protocol, an invite to the governor, for functions that are scheduled in advance, is given a month in advance.
“Since functions like the Onam procession are finalized well in advance, there is hardly any genuine reason why the invite hasn’t reached the governor,” sources close to Raj Bhavan said, adding that the government must have deliberately avoided Khan. Governor and the government do not see eye to eye on a slew of issues, ranging from the political influence in university appointments to the government decision to curtail his powers as the university chancellor.
It’s learnt that Khan scheduled other programmes outside the capital on Sept 12 after the government appeared in no mood to invite him for the valedictory function of the grand Onam procession, which starts at the gates of Raj Bhavan along the Vellayambalam-Kowdiar stretch.
Despite being informed at short notice, Khan rushed to the capital from Delhi on Tuesday to facilitate the swearing in ceremony of MB Rajesh as the new member in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet.
Khan is expected to celebrate Onam with guests from Delhi, his family and Raj Bhavan staff and leave for Ernakulam on Sept 11 evening. He will participate in the adivasi conference at Attapadi on Sept 12 and also call on national award-winning tribal singer Nanchiyamma. He will also visit some adivasi settlement colonies.
The governor is scheduled to visit Kalady Adwaitha Ashram during his return trip. He will participate in a programme at MG University on Sept 15. He will be back in the capital on Sept 18, after attending a programme in Edappally, Ernakulam on September 16.
Generally, the governor and his/her spouse would be the chief guest at the valedictory function of Onam celebrations that end with a colourful procession.
A special pavilion is usually set up at Palayam for the governor and spouse to watch the procession at close quarters. As per protocol, an invite to the governor, for functions that are scheduled in advance, is given a month in advance.
“Since functions like the Onam procession are finalized well in advance, there is hardly any genuine reason why the invite hasn’t reached the governor,” sources close to Raj Bhavan said, adding that the government must have deliberately avoided Khan. Governor and the government do not see eye to eye on a slew of issues, ranging from the political influence in university appointments to the government decision to curtail his powers as the university chancellor.
It’s learnt that Khan scheduled other programmes outside the capital on Sept 12 after the government appeared in no mood to invite him for the valedictory function of the grand Onam procession, which starts at the gates of Raj Bhavan along the Vellayambalam-Kowdiar stretch.
Despite being informed at short notice, Khan rushed to the capital from Delhi on Tuesday to facilitate the swearing in ceremony of MB Rajesh as the new member in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet.
Khan is expected to celebrate Onam with guests from Delhi, his family and Raj Bhavan staff and leave for Ernakulam on Sept 11 evening. He will participate in the adivasi conference at Attapadi on Sept 12 and also call on national award-winning tribal singer Nanchiyamma. He will also visit some adivasi settlement colonies.
The governor is scheduled to visit Kalady Adwaitha Ashram during his return trip. He will participate in a programme at MG University on Sept 15. He will be back in the capital on Sept 18, after attending a programme in Edappally, Ernakulam on September 16.