A notice from the Raj Bhavan reportedly stated that only officially approved symbols will be displayed at government events in future.

Vijayan said the Governor must also be aware of this position. “The Raj Bhavan should not be reduced to the level of an RSS shakha (branch),” he added.

The remarks come amid an escalating political row between the state government and the Governor over the use of ideological imagery in official spaces.

Referring to the boycott of an Environment Day programme organised at the Raj Bhavan by state Agriculture Minister P Prasad over the display of the Bharat Mata image, Vijayan said that was the state government’s clear stance on the matter.

“We may have personal affinities towards many ideologies, faiths and actions related to them. But at government events, only government-recognised symbols should be present. A deviation from that was seen at the Raj Bhavan, and the state Agriculture Minister rightly said it could not be accepted,” the Chief Minister said.

“Later, the Governor also became convinced and clarified that such symbols would not be included in official programmes,” Vijayan claimed.

Whatever the case may be, the government’s position is very clear — programmes must follow the recognised format, and no exhibitions should be held based on individual interests, he added.