New Delhi: Amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government wants to replace governors appointed by its predecessor, Uttar Pradesh governor BL Joshi has resigned.
Mr Joshi’s tenure was to end next month. His resignation could be the start of more such exits after the new BJP government took over last month. The UP governor was among seven seen as “out-and-out UPA appointees” whose terms end in six months or less. Sources had said they would not be pressured to quit.
Home Ministry sources say other UPA-appointed governors who still have two years or more too complete their term is likely to come under pressure. Among them is Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva, who met the Prime Minister today.
The governors should resign themselves. They were appointed by Sonia Gandhi and not on merit,” said BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. The opposition Congress is alleging political vendetta. “Why are they worried about changing governors?” said the party’s PC Chacko.
In 2004, the UPA government’s decision to axe BJP-appointed governors led to a major political showdown. A BJP MP moved Supreme Court, which ruled in May 2010 that governors were not employees of the union government and cannot be removed in an arbitrary and capricious manner with the change of power.
The court said a governor can be replaced only under “compelling” reasons of misconduct or any other irregularity. The escalating controversy over governors comes as the Prime Minister’s Office has stopped eight ministers from appointing as their private secretaries top bureaucrats who had worked for UPA ministers.
The ministers who have been asked to pause on the appointments include Rajnath Singh
and Smriti Irani.
Bureau Report
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