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Not just Arunachal: Non-BJP states grapple with governors
Arunachal’s Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa is not the only governor of the NDA regime to be engaged in a running battle with chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states.
Arunachal’s Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa is not the only governor of the NDA regime to be engaged in a running battle with chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states.
From his Tripura counterpart Tathagata Roy to Ram Naik, Keshri Nath Tripathi and PB Acharya – governors of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam respectively – several individuals holding such constitutional posts have raised hackles among the political leadership of the Opposition-ruled states.
Rajkhowa invoked Article 181 (1) of the constitution to summon a meeting of the state assembly in Itanagar on Wednesday to decide on a resolution to remove Speaker Nabam Rebia without informing chief minister Nabam Tuki; a move that provoked the Congress leadership to accuse him of “attempting to destabilise the Congress-ruled state government”.
Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik has faced off with the Akhilesh Yadav government, refusing to approve its Lokayukta pick. He has also been accused of sitting over the state’s nominations for five members to the legislative council. Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said in October that Naik was an “RSS agent” and he should be recalled. Naik himself has expressed pride at his RSS background.
In Assam, the chief minister made a similar appeal. Tarun Gogoi said Acharya was “interfering” in the political affairs of the state. Acharya was also in the news for his controversial “Hindustan was for Hindus” comment.
“Governors during the UPA regime were also accused of being partisan, but the trouble with the present lot is that they are functioning as active agents towards implementing the Hindutva agenda of the RSS”, political scientist C P Bhambri said.
Tripura governor Tathagata Roy has been embroiled in bigger trouble. “Whatever gave you the notion that I am secular; I am Hindu”, the Governor tweeted recently, drawing the considerable criticism on the micro-blogging site.
In Delhi as well, governor Najeeb Jung has had a running tiff with the Arvind Kejriwal government since the Aam Aadmi Party took office.
“The institution of Governor has declined over the years and the quality of nominees for the job has also declined. This is the reason that governors have been coming out with strange opinions”, political expert Professor Balbir Arora said.
BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma defended the Governors, saying that they were discharging their duties in accordance with established procedures”.
