Wed Dec 24 15:31:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:
Summary:
On December 24, 2025, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan defended his government’s compromise with Governor Arlekar regarding the appointments of Vice-Chancellors to two universities, citing the need to end a disruptive deadlock and prevent Supreme Court intervention. He appointed Governor’s nominee Ciza Thomas as the KTU V-C and his government’s choice Saji Gopinath as Digital University V-C. He refuted accusations of appeasing the central government and also justified giving SNDP Yogam president Vellappally Natesan a ride in his official car, downplaying any potential political motives or negative impact on minority communities. Finally, he attributed the LDF’s poor showing in the local body polls to a complex set of factors beyond just the Sabarimala gold theft scandal, highlighting their success in some religiously significant towns.
News Article:
Kerala CM Defends V-C Appointments, Addresses Poll Concerns
Thiruvananthapuram, December 24, 2025 – Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today addressed concerns surrounding the recent appointments of Vice-Chancellors to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Digital University, Kerala. Speaking to the press, Vijayan defended the government’s agreement with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, stating it was a necessary step to resolve the prolonged impasse in the higher education sector. Ciza Thomas was appointed as the KTU V-C, and Saji Gopinath as Digital University V-C.
“The Governor reached out, and after consulting with the Advocate General, we agreed on a mutually acceptable solution to avoid further disruption, as the Supreme Court also urged resolution,” Vijayan explained. He vehemently denied allegations that the compromise was an attempt to appease the BJP-led Union government.
The Chief Minister also addressed the controversy surrounding his decision to offer a ride in his official car to Vellappally Natesan, president of SNDP Yogam, to the Ayyappa Sangamam event. Vijayan dismissed accusations of political motivations, stating, “It was a simple courtesy extended to a senior citizen and leader of a prominent social organization.” He further added that Natesan had clarified his stance on Muslim communities, reserving criticism for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Finally, Vijayan addressed the LDF’s performance in the recent local body polls. While acknowledging setbacks, he rejected attributing them solely to the Sabarimala gold theft scandal. He pointed to the LDF’s victory in Pandalam and their continued dominance in other temple towns as evidence that the issue was not the sole determining factor.
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