President Pranab Mukherjee has given Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah the additional charge of Karnataka, in addition to his own duties.
Karnataka Governor HR Bharadwaj is to retire on Saturday. Hence, Rosaiah has been entrusted the charge of the additional state.
In addition to Bhardwaj, Tripura Governor Devanand Konwar will also retire on Saturday. Mizoram Governor Vakkom B Purushothaman has been given the additional charge of Tripura, till further arrangements are made.
"K. Rosaiah, Governor of Tamil Nadu, to discharge the functions of the Governor of Karnataka, in addition to his own duties, until regular arrangements for the office of the Governor of Karnataka are made vice H.R. Bhardwaj, who completes his tenure on 28.06.2014," stated a press communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rosaiah was the 15th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh after late CM Rajasekhar Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash on 2 September 2009. He was AP's CM between 3 September 2009 and 24 November 2010.
Rosaiah has vast experience as a politician and held several ministerial positions in the Andhra Pradesh government. His role as the state's finance minister has been praised.
Bharadwaj, 77, was the law minister in UPA government. He took charge as the Governor of Karnataka on 29 June 2009 and has been occupying the post since then.
71-year-old Konwar, a former Congress minister in Assam, was first appointed as the Governor of Bihar on 29 June 2009, and continued in the post till 21 March 2013. Then, he was transferred as the Governor of Tripura, PTI reported.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan press communique stated that the President has accepted the resignation of Nagaland Governor Ashwani Kumar. Meghalaya Governor KK Paul will hold the additional charge of the Governor of Nagaland, in addition to his own responsibility.
Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi, Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt and Nagaland Governor Ashwani Kumar have stepped down from their respective posts, following pressure from the new government at the Centre. With this, Raj Bhavans in Karnataka, Tripura, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattishgarh will have vacancies.
Speculation was rife that the government at the Centre wanted to appoint some BJP veteran leaders as Governors.
Sources said that two more Governors - West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan and Goa Governor BV Wanchoo - are expected to put in their papers soon.
Krishant Kant Paul, Governor of Meghalaya, has been appointed to discharge the functions of the Governor of Nagaland, in addition to his own duties, until regular arrangements for the office of the Governor of Nagaland are made, it added.
