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Sleaze tape costs Andhra governor his job
A day earlier, Andhra Pradesh Governor ND Tiwari’s office had dismissed the television footage allegedly showing him having a romp with three women as “a pack of lies”. On Saturday, though, the governor, a Congress veteran, resigned from his position after a directive from the Congress party headquarters. He cited “health problems” for quitting.
A day earlier, Andhra Pradesh Governor N.D. Tiwari’s office had dismissed the television footage allegedly showing him having a romp with three women as “a pack of lies”.
On Saturday, though, the governor, a Congress veteran, resigned from his position after a directive from the Congress party headquarters. He cited “health problems” for quitting.
The fate of Tiwari, 86, was sealed after a meeting between Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party leaders Pranab Mukherjee, A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel decided he must go.
The Centre had earlier sought a report on the issue from the state chief secretary. The Telegu Desam Party has demanded an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Congress has welcomed Tiwari’s resignation. Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in Jaipur that action would be taken against Tiwari if the allegations are found to be true.
There was no confirmation on who would take over the Andhra governor’s job. Sources who declined to be identified said Chhattisgarh governor ESL Narasimhan is likely to be given additional charge of the state.
A successor to Tiwari will be named when a bunch of other gubernatorial appointments are made in about a month's time.
It used to be seen as a model of governance and stability under the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, but AP is passing through turbulent times now. The agitation for creation of a separate Telangana state is on in full swing, with protests and violence on the streets and political parties including the ruling Congress in the state divided between supporters and opponents of the new state.
The governor’s position is therefore important at this time, since further instability could lead to President's Rule. The new appointee "will have to be a dynamic person", a Congress leader said.
