Arlekar, who assumed the Kerala governorship in January 2025, inherited a landscape defined by intense friction between the Raj Bhavan and the Left Democratic Front government. Replacing Arif Mohammed Khan, he faced immediate speculation regarding whether he would sustain the confrontational trajectory of his predecessor. Instead, the Goa-born politician navigated the state’s polarized politics by separating constitutional firmness from interpersonal conduct. While he remained resolute on matters of protocol—such as his insistence on traditional lamp-lighting ceremonies at Lok Bhavan—he replaced public feuding with private consultation.
His relationship with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan became the primary vehicle for this cooling of tensions. Whether through informal morning walks or birthday visits to Cliff House, Arlekar prioritized open channels over administrative gridlock. This approach was particularly evident in the protracted disputes regarding vice-chancellor appointments at the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological and Digital universities. Rather than allowing legal battles to stall governance indefinitely, he engaged in direct negotiations, ultimately steering the state toward a policy of restraint. As he moves to lead in Tamil Nadu, he leaves behind a Raj Bhavan that is both more accessible to the public and less synonymous with the political volatility that once defined the office.
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