Thiruvananthapuram, A row is in the offing over the new Vice-Chancellor of the Calicut University as Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan delayed his nod, blocking the chances of the ruling Left government's favourite candidate.

The selection panel, comprising State Planning Board vice-chairman V.K. Ramachandran, Chief Secretary Tom Jose and UGC representative M. Jagdeesh Kumar, had short-listed professor at M.G. University K.M. Seethi and Central Tuber Crops Research Institute Principal Scientist C.A. Jayprakash.

While Ramachandran and Jose backed Seethi, Kumar preferred Jayprakash.

Kerala Minister for Higher Education K.T. Jaleel had informed the Governor that the state government preferred Seethi.

According to sources, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also informed the Governor about his preference.

But Khan took his time and Seethi reached his superannuation as a professor.