RSS to Raj Bhavan via Goa BJP, now amid ‘Bharat Mata' image row—tracing Kerala Governor Arlekar's journey
At the heart of the controversy is an image of Bharat Mata holding a saffron flag, widely used by the RSS as a symbol of nationalism.
However, the Kerala governor, who was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from his early days, is now facing allegations from both the ruling Left Democratic Front and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front of turning the Raj Bhavan into RSS office.
Thiruvananthapuram: A strong advocate of the Konkani language and credited with making the Goa Assembly the first paperless legislature in the country, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is known for contributing significantly to the Bharatiya Janata Party's growth in his home state and achieving several firsts.
While the governor insists on paying floral tributes to the image at every official event, including the ones conducted in the Raj Bhavan, the LDF and UDF see this as an attempt to convert the governor's official residence into RSS office.
The issue escalated Thursday when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Arlekar, objecting to the use of the image at official events.
Kerala Higher Education Minister R. Bindu Thursday accused him of attempting to popularise the 'RSS' Bharat Mata concept'. 'The governor is carrying along with him an image of the RSS version of Bharat Mata wearing a silk saree and holding a saffron flag, which is not accepted in independent India. It should be seen as a ploy to get wider acceptance for the RSS' Bharat Mata concept,' she told mediapersons.
However, a senior official at the Raj Bhavan said the current issue was being blown out of proportion for political interests and asserted that Arlekar does not seek to create controversies. He added the governor has made it clear there will be no compromise on the Bharat Mata image.
'He is concerned about the row, but not worried about it,' the official told ThePrint. 'What image should be put up in the Raj Bhavan is decided by others. He is not asking anyone else to do the same or to pay floral tributes to the image.'
'He has been extending his hand to the state… If certain forces don't want that, what can he do,' the official said, adding the issue cannot be compared to typical tussles between Centre-appointed governors and opposition-led states because Arlekar has not hesitated to fulfil his Constitutional duties.
'There are no pending bills with him, nor has he failed in his constitutional duties,' the official said, adding Arlekar enjoys a good rapport with the Centre.
Credited with BJP's growth in Goa
Arlekar, 71, who was associated with the RSS from his early days, played a significant role in strengthening the BJP in Goa, working closely with former chief minister and Union minister, the late Manohar Parrikar.
'The BJP was not that strong in Goa initially. In 1991, a few people, including Parrikar and Arlekar, joined the BJP from the Sangh and started working to strengthen the party base. Arlekar contested the 1991 Lok Sabha elections but didn't win. In 1994, we won four out of 40 seats in the Assembly. It was historic. In 1999, it became 10,' Sadanand Tanavade, a former Goa BJP president and a close friend of Arlekar, told ThePrint.
Tanavade added that Arlekar's popularity also grew during his days in active politics as he led several agitations against then ruling Congress' alleged corrupt practices.
Arlekar officially joined the BJP in 1989 and served the organisation in various roles since then. His father Vishwanath Arlekar was a state president of the Jan Sangh, the BJP precursor.
Although he lost in his first attempt, Arlekar was elected MLA in 2002. In 2012, he was elected the speaker of the Goa Assembly and served for three years.
'He was the first speaker who ran the Assembly entirely in Konkani. He used to speak entirely in Konkani when he was presiding over the Assembly,' Tanavade said. He also oversaw the transition of the Assembly proceedings to paperless, the first such initiative in an Indian state.
Tanavade said Arlekar was close to the party high command while in active politics and would always remain content with whatever responsibility the party assigned him and never lobbied for any post.
'He is a nice, down-to-earth person. He's a very good speaker. He can talk about anything, especially national integrity. His first priority is the nation,' Tanavade said.
In 2021, Arlekar was appointed the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and in 2024, he became the Governor of Bihar before being sworn in as Kerala Governor on 2 January 2025.
The image controversy and more
On the Republic Day this year, Arlekar praised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his clear vision for the state's development and expressed pride in the state. Their apparent bonhomie suggested a peaceful relationship between the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led state government and the Raj Bhavan, a welcome change from what it was when Arlekar's predecessor Arif Mohammed Khan was in office.
However, the situation changed in earlier this month, 5 June to be precise.
On Environment Day, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad boycotted an event at the Raj Bhavan over the display of a Bharat Mata portrait. Later, on 19 June, General Education Minister V. Sivankutty boycotted the Scouts and Guides Rajya Puraskar award ceremony, leaving the Raj Bhavan shortly after extending his wishes to the children and condemning the display of the image.
The tussle escalated Wednesday as members of the CPI(M)'s Students Federation of India and the Congress' Kerala Students' Union protested outside the Kerala University where the governor had attended an event organised by a right-wing group that displayed the controversial image. The protests led to clashes as RSS-BJP supporters opposed them.
About a month ago, Arlekar triggered a row by nominating 10 deans to the Kannur University, all from outside the university, in direct violation of the university statutes, which stipulate that deans must be professors from the university's own departments. Of the 10 people nominated, six were from institutions funded by the Union government, and the rest from outside the state. Subsequently, the Kannur University syndicate passed a resolution against the move.
In December last year, while serving as Bihar governor, Arlekar sparked a row by saying that the British rulers left India not because of the freedom satyagraha but because they saw arms in the hands of native people. The comment drew criticism from opposition leaders who claimed the comments disrespected freedom fighters.
Kerala BJP leader Anoop Antony Joseph claimed the ruling CPI(M) is trying to make it into controversy to distract from 'anti-incumbency' sentiment in the state and its loss in the recent Nilambur bypoll.
'It's also part of appeasement politics by both the LDF and UDF. The LDF doesn't have any development to show in the upcoming polls. So, it's easy for them to resort to religious appeasement. We saw the same in Nilambur by both LDF and UDF,' he told ThePrint.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: 'Bharat Mata' portrait pits LDF against Kerala Governor, again. 'Turning Raj Bhavan into party office'
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