Kerala Governor's Raj Bhavan Kitchen Order Triggers Political Row

Om Prakash Mathur took oath as the 29th governor of Kerala, stepping into office and immediately sparking a major political controversy over food.

Raj Bhavan Kitchen

On his very first day, Governor Mathur ordered that only vegetarian food be cooked and served inside the Raj Bhavan kitchen. According to sources cited by Dainik Bhaskar, Mathur is a strict vegetarian who stays away from non-vegetarian food. Governor office sources clarified that this rule applies only to the kitchen preparing food for the governor and a few personal staff members, and no restrictions have been placed on the food brought from home or eaten outside by other Lok Bhavan employees.

Political Backlash

The ruling Congress party and the opposition CPI(M) strongly condemned the move, accusing the governor of pushing a Sangh Parivar agenda. Congress General Secretary and Alappuzha Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal stated that the governor crossed a line, noting that Kerala is a coastal state with a distinct culinary culture where fish forms a core part of the diet, and people are entirely free to choose what they eat. State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala asserted that deciding what someone eats goes against the Constitution. CPI(M) State Secretary M V Govindan added that attempts are now being made to turn food into a communal weapon.

Context

Food choices and dietary habits often become flashpoints in Indian politics, touching upon questions of regional culture, personal freedom, and traditional lifestyles. In coastal states like Kerala, seafood is deeply tied not only to daily meals but also to local livelihoods, nutrition, and the broader economy.