Amid its standoff with the Opposition over the sacking of governors, the government on Monday announced their successors in the four Raj Bhavans.
According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué, veteran Congress leader from Rajasthan Nawal Kishore Sharma will take charge in Gujarat, former Nagaland CM S.C. Jamir in Goa, Rajya Sabha MP A.R. Kidwai in Haryana and former IB chief T.V. Rajeswar in UP.
Sources said home minister Shivraj Patil had informed the CMs of the four states about the appointments.
An old loyalist of the Gandhi family, Rajeswar held the gubernatorial office earlier in West Bengal. Likewise, Kidwai was the governor of Bihar before being elected to the Rajya Sabha from Delhi. His departure will leave two vacancies in the Upper House, with Ambika Soni already having resigned her Delhi seat to return to the House from Punjab.
In the mid-term polls to the two seats, one might be contested by power minister P.M. Sayeed. The Congress nominee for the other slot could be a wild card entry.
Meanwhile, the NDA refuses to relent and VHP leader B.P. Singhal has moved the Supreme Court on the issue of the governors' removal. The Centre has marshalled its arguments to justify the decision on the floor of the House. From all available indications, Patil would cite precedents of governors being asked to resign.