Kerala Governor’s vegetarian food preference sparks Congress-RSS row

A dispute over food arrangements at Kerala’s Lok Bhavan has escalated into a political debate after the new Governor’s vegetarian preference drew criticism from Congress

Kumar Chellappan

October 23, 2026

Kerala Governor Om Prakash Mathur’s preference for simple vegetarian food at Lok Bhavan has triggered a political row after Congress leader K C Venugopal raised objections

Lok Bhavan official says staff remain free to bring non-vegetarian food

Within minutes of Om Prakash Mathur was sworn in as the 29th Governor of Kerala on Friday, the Congress unleashed a verbal attack on the new governor purportedly on the food cooked in the kitchen of the Lok Bhavan.

Governor Mathur, known for his frugal lifestyle and personal needs had left words with the Lok Bhavan management that being a vegetarian, he would be content with simple vegetable foods and the same may be served to the staff members who have their meals with him. He had also told the Lok Bhavan officials that those who are particular about their non-vegetarian dishes are free to bring the same and consume it in the official dining room.

K C Venugopal, the leading court jester of the Nehru-Gandhi clan who is also the all-India secretary of the Congress Party took to the social media and launched a diatribe against the Governor. Venugopal charged the Governor with attempting to push the RSS agenda in the Lok Bhavan. The Congress secretary was annoyed over the rendering of Vande Matharm during the swearing in ceremony of the Governor and reportedly got instructions from 10, Janpath in New Delhi and the Panakkadu family in Malappuram, the command post of Kerala’s current political dispensation.

“It is against federalism and democratic principles the Governor issued a directive that only vegetarian food be cooked and served from Lok Bhavan canteen. This is also against the myriad food culture which is the tradition of the State,” Venugopal said in his social media post. He also asked the Governor to withdraw the order and start serving non-vegetarian food from Lok Bhavan kitchen.

A Lok Bhavan official who on condition of anonymity told PGurus that the decision to cook and consume the kind of food which the Governor prefers is his personal choice. “You cannot demand that a constitutional authority should cook and serve non-vegetarian food in the Lok Bhavan dining hall. The Governor, while making his preference known had said that he does not have any issues with the Lok Bhavan staff consuming non-vegetarian food brought from their homes or hotels and the matter ends there. Venugopal’s main responsibility is to entertain the members of the Nehru-Gandhi clan and the Muslim League leadership. Hence we do not attach any importance to his words,” sad the official.

Venugopal’s outbursts have given an impression that the entire staff of Lok Bhavan come for work only to lunch and dine at the Governor’s expense. Lok Bhavan kitchen is not a public place serving made-to-order foods and the official residence of the Governor symbolizes democracy and public service.