Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has voiced his dissatisfaction after learning about Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's three-week-long foreign tour through the media. Khan sarcastically thanked reporters for informing him about the trip, stating that he had not been officially informed. He emphasized that this lack of communication was not a new occurrence, as he had previously raised concerns with the President of India about Raj Bhavan being kept unaware of such foreign visits.
Vijayan, along with his close family members, departed for various foreign destinations on May 6, sparking criticism from opposition parties such as the Congress and BJP. They accused the CM of maintaining secrecy regarding the trip and questioned its sponsorship. However, the ruling CPI(M) defended Vijayan, with party members justifying the family tour.
CPI(M) central committee member A K Balan likened Vijayan's trip to a well-deserved break, comparing it to God's rest after creating the universe. He downplayed the controversy by highlighting that Vijayan had not ventured into space but had simply taken a vacation in Indonesia.
Further clarifying the situation, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan stated that Vijayan had funded the trip himself and obtained necessary permissions from both the party and the Central government. Govindan emphasized that the overseas journey was planned as a personal break for Vijayan following the strenuous Lok Sabha poll campaign in Kerala.
