Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa was removed from his post on Monday. Mr Rajkowa was earlier advised by the Centre to resign on his own, which he refused.
Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa was removed from his post on Monday. Mr Rajkowa was earlier advised by the Centre to resign on his own, which he refused.
During Union home minister Rajnath Singh’s meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee last week, Mr Singh had informed Mr Mukherjee of the government’s lack of trust in Mr Rajkhowa and that his continuance had become untenable following the Supreme Court’s observations against him over the dismissal of the Congress government in the state in 2015.
A statement from the Rashtrapati Bhawan said Mr Rajkhowa “shall cease to hold the office of the governor of Arunachal Pradesh”.
Meghalya governor V. Shanmuganathan has been given the additional responsibility of Arunachal Pradesh till the state gets a full-time governor.
Mr Rajkhowa was among the first governors to be appointed by the Modi government in May, 2015. The home minister’s meeting with the President came in the backdrop of Mr Rajkhowa’s refusal to step down despite an indication to do so following serious strictures being passed against him by the apex court. However, a defiant Mr Rajkhowa said he would not step down but was ready to be sacked.
“I want the President to dismiss me. I will not resign. Let the President express his displeasure. Let the government use provisions of Article 156 of the Constitution,” Mr Rajkhowa had told a section of the local media. He claimed he was asked to resign “on health grounds” after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and censured him.
While explaining his position on the entire issue, Mr Rajkhowa had also written to the President, who, in turn, forwarded the letter to the home ministry. A detailed report on the governor’s conduct was submitted to the President by the home ministry following which he was finally sacked on Monday.
Mr Rajkhowa is former IAS officer and was the chief secretary of Assam before being appointed Arunachal Pradesh governor.
