Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar Calls Out UDF Government After Police Band Cuts Vande Mataram

Kerala's newly constituted Assembly began its first working day on Friday not with celebration, but with controversy — as a dispute over the incomplete rendition of the national song Vande Mataram ignited a fierce political battle between Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the freshly elected Congress-led United Democratic Front government.

The flashpoint arrived even before the Governor began reading out the government's maiden policy declaration. As part of the ceremonial reception, the Kerala Police band played only the opening portion of Vande Mataram before stopping midway, despite Lok Bhavan reportedly directing during Thursday's rehearsal that the national song be rendered in full.

Speaking to reporters after participating in a paddy sapling planting programme, Governor Arlekar confirmed that his office had clearly conveyed its stand before the Assembly proceedings. "What we had insisted was that whenever the Governor is present, Vande Mataram has to be sung fully. They did not sing it but only played it, and they could have done it. Let us see. I have spoken to the Speaker," he said.

The state government is understood to have rejected the instruction and stuck to the long-followed convention of playing only the initial portion, triggering what could possibly be the first visible signs of friction between the new UDF administration and the Governor's office.

Leading the BJP's attack was first-time legislator and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan, who accused the government of insulting both the Governor and the national song, alleging that the administration had bowed before the ideological positions of the CPI(M) and Jamaat-e-Islami.

The UDF government appears keen to signal that it will not easily yield ground to Lok Bhavan on matters involving convention and protocol, while the Governor's office is equally unlikely to retreat quietly after its directive was ignored publicly.

What began as a question of ceremonial protocol has rapidly evolved into a defining test of power between Raj Bhavan and Thiruvananthapuram — and Kerala's new political chapter is already off to a turbulent start.