Kerala's ruling Congress takes up cudgels with governor

Differences between Kerala's ruling Congress and Governor P. Sathasivam came out in the open with the former saying that the recent meeting of vice chancellors in the state called by the latter is without precedence.

State Congress party spokesperson M.M. Hassan told reporters here Wednesday that the meeting called by Sathasivam Monday at Kochi was improper.

"At the meeting he announced the decision to form a chancellor's council, which is against law. The governor should have consulted the state government. What he did is interfering with the rights of government," said Hassan.

After the VC's meeting, the governor had told reporters that a chancellor's council would be set up to discuss issues in the higher education sector and would function as an effective forum for exchange of ideas and would meet once in three months.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy when asked about the issue refused to comment but said that the universities in the state are doing a good job, though at a few places there are some issues.