Governor bypasses Agriculture Minister T. Siddique’s recommendations, appoints Dr. Sajitha Rani as Agricultural University VC

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move calculated to trigger fresh political debates, the Governor has appointed Dr. Sajitha Rani as the new Vice Chancellor of the Kerala Agricultural University. Sajitha Rani, who is currently serving as a Dean within the university, steps into the top administrative role amid immediate political pushback.

The appointment has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, which alleges a coordinated effort to plant saffron-leaning academics at the helm of state universities. Opponents highlighted Dr. Sajitha Rani’s leadership role in the Adhyapaka Parishad—the teachers' wing affiliated with the BJP—and claimed this appointment mirrors a recent, similar controversy at Mahatma Gandhi (MG) University, where an individual with alleged BJP ties was also chosen for the Vice Chancellor position.

Adding friction to the developing situation, emerging reports indicate that the Governor finalised Sajitha Rani's appointment after outright rejecting the list of recommended names submitted by Agriculture Minister T. Siddique.