M’laya Guv: Future perfect
SHILLONG: With a BJP-led government taking charge at the Centre, several governors appointed by the erstwhile UPA government, including that of Mizoram’s Kamla Beniwal, have been shown the door. Some Governors are forced to resign while a few resisted and are still in office.
One such head of the State is Meghalaya Governor KK Paul.
Paul is reportedly spared due to the clout his wife Omita Paul has in Rashrapati Bhavan.
She is the secretary to President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
According to sources, the BJP-led NDA government does not want to antagonize Rashtrapati Bhavan by removing the Meghalaya Governor though he was appointed during the tenure of Congress-led UPA-II in July, 2013.
Though initially Paul’s name figured in the list of ‘to be removed’ governors, Narendra Modi government has allowed him to remain in the office considering the political influence of Omita Paul as the secretary to the President of India.
Sources said that Paul will complete his five-year tenure in Meghalaya.
PTI ads from Jaipur/Mumbai: Meanwhile, sacked Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal on Saturday said she did her work in the right spirit and abided by the law. Beniwal, who arrived at her residence here, told reporters,
“Whatever I have done, have done in accordance with law.” She, however, refused to answer other queries.
Kamla Beniwal, who had a running battle with Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister, was Wednesday sacked as Governor of Mizoram just two months before her tenure ended.
The NDA government came under attack over the sacking of Beniwal with the Opposition calling it “political vendetta”, a charge it rejected by saying the action followed “serious allegations” against her and insisted there was no politics.
Meanwhile, calling gubernatorial posts as ‘white elephants’, Shiv Sena has backed Beniwal’s sacking as and said that “Congress has reaped what it sowed”.
“Defeated Congress leaders are shedding tears over Beniwal’s removal, calling it vindictive politics,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.
“But what is wrong if the (Narendra) Modi government carried on the Congress’ tradition of removing Governors after coming to power,” it asked.