New Delhi: Completing its formalities, the UPA-II government on Wednesday finalised the name of Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L Narasimhan for the post of “common governor” of the residuary Seemandhra and new Telangana states with effect from June 2.
The name of Mr Narasimhan, a former Intelligence Bureau chief who was sent to Andhra Pradesh from neighbouring Chhatissgarh at the height of the pro-Telangana agitation in 2009, is understood to have been cleared at the Union Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, sources said.
Mr Narasimhan shares a good rapport with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Sources said that Mr Singh and his Cabinet colleagues felt that Mr Narasimhan is the obvious choice for the post of common governorship as he is aware of the political situation and he had handled issues relating to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh deftly.
Mr Narasimhan’s name was finalised and is understood to have been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee through the ministry concerned, the sources said. The appointment would come into effect from June 2, the day on which the new Telangana state would come into being.
An official announcement from the Rashtrapati Bhawan is expected in this regard.
The decision is expected to stoke another controversy, as the TRS, the political face of the Telangana movement, has been demanding his removal accusing him of being biased.
Sources said the UPA Government did not want to leave the job of appointing a common governor to the next dispensation, as it wanted to complete all formalities relating to AP’s bifurcation before May 16.
The role of the common governor would be crucial once the two states come into being as he would be entrusted with special responsibility for security of life and property of all those living in Hyderabad, the common capital. The provision to appoint a common governor was part of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014 that met with stiff resistance from BJP and other parties.
“In the discharge of above functions, the Governor shall, after consulting the council of ministers of the state of Telangana, exercise his individual judgment and his/her decision shall be final,” the Bill says.
