In Governor Vs NDA Government Row, the Sixth Resignation

Mizoram governor Vakkom B Purushothaman, who was upset at being transferred to Nagaland, resigned on Friday July 11,2014 adding to the growing tally of UPA-era governors to exit since the Narendra Modi government took charge in May 2014

Vakkom B Purushothaman is the sixth governor to resign in an ongoing drive by the Modi government to remove UPA-appointees in the top office. Many governors have received calls from Home Secretary Anil Goswami asking them to step down.  Those nearing the end of their term have been allowed to continue

The Governors of Goa and West Bengal, BV Wanchoo and MK Narayanan, resigned after being questioned in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of 12 helicopters meant for VVIP use from AgustaWestland.

Three governors had resigned earlier - BL Joshi of Uttar Pradesh, Shekhar Dutt in Chhattisgarh and Ashwani Kumar, who was Nagaland governor. Two others were allowed to stay till their tenures ended last month - HR Bhardwaj (Karnataka) and Devanand Konwar (Tripura)

8 Vacancies in Raj bhavan

• Uttar Pradesh -as B L Joshi resigned
• Chhattisgarh - as Shekhar Dutt resigned
• Nagaland -as Ashwani Kumar resigned
• Goa -B V Wanchoo resigned
• West Bengal - M K Narayanan resigned
• Mizoram - as Vakkom B Purushothaman resigned
• Karnataka -H R Bhardwaj term expires
• Tripura - Devanand Konwar term expired

Note

Governors are appointed by the President on the advice of the Central government and can only be asked to resign ‘formally’ in special and compelling circumstances that are equivalent to grounds for impeachment (as applied for any other constitutional functionaries)

The 2010 ruling of Supreme Court is very pertinent here as it stated that a change in government was not a ground for removal of Governors

The UPA-I and UPA-II Govt had appointed 19 Congressmen as governors. This trend of appointing bureaucrats and party leaders does not seem to change in the coming days too by NDA Govt

Why every Union Government wants its men to assume Governor’s Office?

In actual practice, the ruling dispensation at the centre appoints those persons as governors of states who belong to their party/alliance or happen to be bureaucrats close to their organisation or leaders, as a token of appreciation of their loyalty or long service. Senior political observers have regarded this as a tool for keeping control on respective states, thereby eroding the autonomy of states.
Following are some of the ways through which union governments can intervene in the functioning a state government:

1. A governor can hold a Bill for indefinite time period. This power is generally exercised when the Central Government wants to delay any legislative measure initiated by a state.
2. Through Article 356, the Central government can take direct control of a state’s executive powers, by imposing President’s rule, wherein all powers rest with the Governor
3. The Governor of a state can dismiss an elected government.