Centre to reshuffle governors, get new faces

After appointing former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, the Centre is planning to reshuffle some governors and may also appoint a few new ones. Some of the states being considered by the government for fresh faces in Raj Bhavan include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and even Tamil Nadu. According to senior government sources, the issue has been discussed among Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah.

One such round of discussions was held last week. There is a growing view within the government that though some changes and fresh gubernatorial appoin-tments are needed, a final decision is expected only after the Cabinet reshuffle, a source pointed out.

One of the important names doing the rounds is that of Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel, who is being considered for Punjab which does not have a full-time governor as Haryana governor Kaptan Singh Solanki holds additional charge there. Speculation is rife that Ms Patel could be replaced as Gujarat CM by senior minister Nitin Patel.

A section within the government feels Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh should be moved to another crucial state in north India and, if this happens, then current Uttarakhand governor K.K. Paul could replace Mr Singh in Jaipur. Dr Paul had a successful tenure as Delhi police commissioner. Sources said the name of another former Delhi police chief, B.S. Bassi, is under consideration for the governorship of Uttarakhand. He was also in the reckoning for Chief Information Commissioner when he retired from the police.

The government is also keen on appointing noted lawyer and former attorney-general Soli Sorabjee as governor of an important state. His name was also considered around the time senior Gujarat BJP leader Vajubhai Vala was appointed Karnataka governor in 2014.

The term of Tamil Nadu governor K. Rosaiah gives over in about three months so the Centre is looking for a replacement for him too.

“Discussions are on at the highest level in government on the issue of governors and several names and scenarios are being deliberated upon. But, more than an administrative decision, this also has to be a political decision,” a senior government functionary said.