Kerala Governor objects to partial ‘Vande Mataram’ protocol in State Assembly,

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has expressed displeasure over the manner in which the national song Vande Mataram was observed in the Kerala Assembly during the state government’s policy address.

The Governor said that the protocol was not properly followed as the full version of Vande Mataram was not sung in the Assembly when he was present. Instead, only portions of the song were played by a band team before and after his address.

Arlekar stated that when the Governor attends official functions in the Assembly, the national song should be sung in full as part of established protocol. He added that the version presented during the session was incomplete and not sung in its entirety.

Following the incident, the Governor said he had raised the matter with Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and expects corrective steps to be taken.

He further remarked that the issue has been communicated and that he would wait to see how it is addressed going forward.

Earlier, political reactions also emerged over the matter, with opposition voices claiming that the incomplete rendition of Vande Mataram amounted to a breach of respect for the national song during an official Assembly session.

The controversy has added to ongoing political tensions between the Governor’s office and the state government over procedural and protocol-related issues.