NDA vs UPA: Governors get the shove; spotlight on Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi: A full-blown confrontation has erupted between the Narendra Modi government and the Congress as the former has virtually launched a drive to remove state Governors appointed during the UPA regime.

The government is also expected to change the political appointees in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), whose role came under sharp scrutiny after the Uttarakhand disaster last year.

Read: Move to remove Governors a political vendetta: Congress slams Modi government

So far only UP Governor B.L. Joshi, whose term had anyway expired, has resigned. Others, including Karna-taka Governor H.R. Bharadwaj, Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik and Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit, have refused to oblige the Modi government.

Read: Succumbing to pressure? 3 governors resign, Centre wants others to follow suit

Union home minister Rajnath Singh, however, said, “I would have resigned if I were in their place.”

Sources said Union home secretary Anil Goswami has sent feelers to the Governors and conveyed the new government’s desire that they step down.

The Modi government is reportedly zeroing in on at least 12 Governors — those of Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tripura, West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Goa.

Trying to stem speculation that he has resigned, Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik said, “I have not resigned. If there is a rumour, I cannot help it.”

Read: Sushil Modi urges Centre to remove governors appointed by UPA