Raj Bhavans turning into political rehabs
Ruling parties give the post to leaders defeated in polls.
Hyderabad: The actions by Governors of some non-BJP-ruled states have attracted criticism. There is criticism that be it the BJP or the Congress, whenever they are in power at the Centre, make the Governor’s institution a political rehabilitation centre for party colleagues who lose elections.
Telugu Desam founder president and former Chief Minister, the late N.T. Rama Rao, had demanded abolition of the post of Governor much before Ram Lal sacked him in 1984.
The recent tweet of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the Lieutenant Governor’s role has become a point of discussion in political circles.
In the wake of Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy’s dharna along with his Cabinet ministers against Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, who lost the Delhi Assembly elections from the BJP’s bastion of Krishna Nagar in 2015, Mr Kejriwal tweeted under the caption “This is Indian Democracy”: “Those whom people elected are subordinate to those whom people defeated. Those whom people elected are powerless and those whom people defeated enjoy complete powers (sic)”.
Former Union minister Renuka Chowdary said: “I don’t know whether Kejriwal referred to a particular move, but the fact is that elected governments cannot be harassed and denied their legislation.”
Recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his Cabinet colleagues had strongly criticised Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan. TD ministers said Mr Narasimhan was biased in favour of the TRS-led Telangana state government. Mr Narasimhan is Governor of both Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh.
TD ministers also demanded the shifting of Mr Narasimhan.
“It is unfortunate that people who lost the elections are occupying power at the Centre. It is against the spirit of democracy,” Telangana state Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said. “It is one way of disrespecting the people’s verdict. People with respect, morals and ethics will not try to occupy these kind of positions.”
Reacting to Mr Kejriwal’s tweet, Telangana BJP MLC N. Ramachandra Rao said: “Unlike Governors, the Lt .Governor has some administrative powers. If the Chief Minister has some grievance, he can approach the President instead of enacting a political drama like Mamata Banerjee. The Delhi CM’s comment is uncalled for. He suffers from political bias and Modi phobia.”