New Delhi:
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal, who shared an uneasy relationship with Narendra Modi when he was the state's Chief Minister, has been shifted to Mizoram in the new government's latest strike on UPA-appointees in the top office.
Ms Beniwal's tenure ends in November. The 87-year-old's stint in Gujarat saw several confrontations with the state government, mainly over the appointment of the state's Lokayukta or anti-corruption ombudsman.
The Modi government fought Ms Beniwal's choice of retired Justice RA Mehta as Gujarat Lokayukta till the Supreme Court. Justice Mehta refused to take up the post and Mr Modi's government then named a new nominee. The state government also accused Ms Beniwal of delaying legislation passed in the assembly.
Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva, who will demit office in a month, will take additional charge of Gujarat for now.
Ms Beniwal's transfer has intensified speculation on the possible exit of Sheila Dikshit, who was appointed governor of Kerala by the previous Congress regime just before the national election. Ms Dikshit, a three-term Chief Minister of Delhi, was routed in the December state polls.
In the past few weeks, five governors have resigned, two of them after being questioned by the CBI. Many governors appointed by the previous government have received calls from Home Secretary Anil Goswami, asking them to step down.
Those who remain, continue to face pressure from the new government, say sources.
Goa Governor BV Wanchoo resigned on Friday after being questioned in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of 12 helicopters meant for VVIP use from AgustaWestland. His tenure was to end in 2017.
The week before, MK Narayanan resigned as West Bengal governor after being questioned as a witness in the same case.
Mr Narayanan as National Security Adviser and Mr Wanchoo as the chief of the Special Protection Group attended meetings in 2005 where technical changes favouring AgustaWestland were reportedly made in the specifications.
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).