New Delhi: With cabinet formation out of the way, the new Modi government is now looking at its next assignment — headhunting for governors to 10 states, where their terms are set to end in the next six months.
Appointed by the President, governors serve a five-year term, which can be extended if the government of the day so wants.
Keshari Nath Tripathi, West Bengal
Tripathi took oath as governor in July 2014. His five-year term ends next month. Sources said that with the law and order situation deteriorating in West Bengal following the Lok Sabha elections, the government has begun the process to look for Tripathi’s replacement. An old BJP hand, Tripathi is a former president of the Uttar Pradesh BJP unit. He was also a six-time MLA and a three-term UP Speaker.
Om Prakash Kohli, Gujarat
Kohli was sworn in as Gujrat governor on 16 July 2014. In his long political career, Kohli had served as president of the Delhi BJP in 1991-95 and 2009-10. He was also a Rajya Sabha member between 1994 and 2000. In his student days, Kohli was the president of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP’s student wing, and was jailed during the Emergency.
ESL Narasimhan, Telangana
Narasimhan was sworn in as Telangana governor on 2 June 2014. A former director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Narasimhan was already serving his second term as Andhra Pradesh governor in 2014 when he also assumed charge as Telangana governor following the bifurcation of the state. He served as Chhattisgarh governor between 2007 and 2009.
Ram Naik, Uttar Pradesh
Another old BJP hand, Naik took oath as UP governor in July 2014. He was a cabinet minister, handling the oil and natural gas portfolio in the NDA-I government during the prime ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Naik made his political foray in 1964 with the Bhartiya Jana Sangh and has been associated with the RSS since his student days.
Mridula Sinha, Goa
The first woman governor of Goa, Sinha assumed charge on 31 August 2014. Sinha has served in the BJP in different capacities. Prior to taking charge as governor, she was a member of the BJP’s national executive. She was also in charge of BJP’s Mahila Morcha. A noted author, Sinha has over four-dozen books, including short stories and biographies, to her credit.
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Kalyan Singh, Rajasthan
Two-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh took charge as Rajasthan governor on 4 September 2014. It was under his tenure as CM that Babri Masjid was demolished on 6 December 1992. Singh resigned, taking moral responsibility for the events.
Vajubhai Vala, Karnataka
A former minister in the Gujarat cabinet, Vala was appointed Karnataka governor in September 2014. Vala, who volunteered for the RSS, also served as Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly between 2012 and 2014 when PM Narendra Modi was the chief minister.
P Sathasivam, Kerala
Former Chief Justice of India, P. Sathasivam was appointed Kerala governor on 5 September 2014. Sathasivam became well-known after delivering the judgment in the 1993 Mumbai blast case.
C Vidyasagar Rao, Maharashtra
Another seasoned BJP politician, Rao was sworn in as Maharashtra governor in August 2014. A BJP leader from Telangana, he served as a junior minister in the Vajpayee government.
PB Acharya, Nagaland
Acharya, a former BJP president of North West Bombay district, was sworn in as Nagaland governor on 14 July 2014. Associated with the RSS since his childhood, he held several positions in the organisation before the BJP made him the governor.
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Perhaps the net needs to be cast a little wider, beyond the party faithful alone. Governor Meghalaya should be encouraged to now spend time with his grandchildren.