On 28 June 2024, Kerala Governor Om Prakash Mathur announced that the Lok Bhavan kitchen would serve only vegetarian food, a move that triggered sharp criticism from the ruling Congress and the CPI(M).
Mathur, a strict vegetarian, cited personal preference as the reason for the directive, according to officials at the governor's office. The announcement came immediately after his oath, administered by Chief Justice Soumen Sen.
Congress leader KC Venugopal slammed the decision as an overreach, saying, "A governor cannot impose his dietary habits on public servants." He warned that the move could signal a saffron agenda.
CPI(M) state secretary M. Govindan echoed Venugopal, stating, "This is an attempt to turn food into a communal weapon." He demanded the order be revoked within 24 hours.
According to Lok Bhavan staff, the directive applied only to meals prepared for the governor and a handful of his aides; other employees bring food from home or eat elsewhere.
The issue raises constitutional questions about freedom of choice; the parties have called for a review by the Kerala High Court. A court hearing is expected next month.