Thiruvananthapuram/Hyderabad, Oct 24 (Maxim News): Kerala Governor Om Prakash Mathur has triggered a political controversy after reportedly directing the Lok Bhavan kitchen to prepare only vegetarian food.
Mathur took oath as Kerala’s 29th Governor on Friday, October 23. Reports said he instructed staff not to cook or serve meat and fish in the kitchen following his assumption of office.
The directive drew criticism from Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with leaders raising concerns about personal food choices and individual freedom.
Congress leader and AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal criticised the move, arguing that the Governor should not impose his personal dietary preferences on others.
Venugopal pointed out that Kerala has diverse food traditions and a strong coastal food culture. He said people should remain free to choose what they eat.
Congress and CPM Question Kerala Governor’s Directive
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also opposed the reported instruction. He said food choices were a matter of personal freedom and should not be dictated by others.
CPM state secretary M. V. Govindan said the Governor could choose a vegetarian diet for himself. However, he argued that such a preference should not be imposed on other people.
The controversy prompted a clarification from Lok Bhavan officials. They said Mathur was a strict vegetarian and had directed that only vegetarian food be prepared in the kitchen used for his meals.
Officials clarified that the instruction did not extend to staff members’ personal food choices. Employees could bring food from home or make their own arrangements outside the Governor’s kitchen.
The reported directive has sparked a wider debate in Kerala over personal dietary preferences and the role of public institutions. However, the clarification indicates that the restriction applies to food prepared for the Governor rather than a general prohibition on non-vegetarian food across the premises.
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