Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Part of India (CPI) has openly criticised Higher Education Minister R Bindu's involvement in reappointing the Vice Chancellor of the Kannur University. 

The CPI, the second largest constituent party in the Left Democratic Front, slammed the Minister for giving a recommendation letter to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan urging for the reappointment of Dr Gopinath Ravindran as the Vice-Chancellor.

CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran, while briefing the media at the end of the party State Council meeting held here on Thursday, said that the party was of the view that the Minister did not have any power to act in this manner.

The state government and the CPM, which are trying to defend the action of the Minister, have been put on the defensive as the CPI denounced her action in public.

Kanam made his displeasure publicly known in the backdrop of severe criticisms aired at the CPI State Council meeting against the action of the Higher Education Minister.

Kanam said he would not comment at this stage whether the Minister had abused her power or not. "What I said is very clear. The Minister has no right to give such a recommendation letter. If my understanding is wrong, then I am ready to correct," he told the media.

The veteran leader said that there was not much scope for a debate on the issue now that the High Court had approved the reappointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

"The party has already made it clear its stand on the powers of the Governor. The Government has its nominee in the search committee constituted for selecting the VC. The VC can be appointed only from those who have applied. Usually, it is found that the Governor picks one person from the panel. This time, the appointment has been made after getting the Governor's signature. Moreover, the court has rejected contentions raised with regard to age and reappointment," Kanam said.

State Council comes down heavily on Minister

Meanwhile, the general feeling among CPI State Council members was that the Minister used powers which she didn't actually possess. The recommendation given in favour of one individual violated the oath taken by the Minister. 

Senior leader R Lathadevi pointed out that even in the capacity of the Pro-Chancellor, the Minister did not have the right to recommend the name of the VC to the Chancellor who is also the Governor.

Former Minister VS Sunil Kumar remarked that the government should have been circumspect and the reappointment of the VC was unnecessary.

Many Council members expressed their displeasure over unwanted political interventions in the higher education sector. They noted that the CPM's domination in universities had crossed all limits. However, many pointed out that the party could not support the political game played by the Governor.