New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa has been sacked weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the state, accusing him of violating the constitution.
Mr Rajkhowa will "cease to hold the office," a statement from the President's House said on Monday evening.
The sacking was imminent after Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed during a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee last Wednesday that Mr Rajkhowa's position had become untenable and he had lost the centre's confidence.
The government waited to act against the governor until after a two-day special session of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly called on Thursday to ratify a constitutional amendment bill enabling the Goods and Services Tax or GST.
The centre had earlier asked Mr Rajkhowa to resign "on health grounds" but he had defiantly refused to step down.
The 72-year-old had told a local TV channel: "I want the President to dismiss me. I will not resign. Let the President express his displeasure."
The former bureaucrat was appointed as governor last year.
On July 13, the Supreme Court reinstated the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh by cancelling all decisions of Mr Rajkhowa that had precipitated its fall in January
"The Governor must remain aloof from any disagreement, discord, disharmony, discontent or dissension, within individual political parties," a five-judge constitution bench had said.
This was seen as a searing indictment of Mr Rajkhowa, who was accused by the Congress of tacitly supporting its rebels and also helping the BJP by calling an assembly session a month ahead of schedule. The Nabam Tuki government was "dismissed" in that session held in a makeshift venue.
In February, Congress rebels led by Kalikho Pul took power with support from the BJP.
Some sources close to Mr Rajkhowa say he has been consulting legal experts and has plans to challenge his sacking. BJP insiders say that Mr Rajkhowa as governor had information on the centre's dealings before the Nabam Tuki government was declared to have lost the trust vote and Kalikho Pul was installed as chief minister.
The government is yet to name the successors of Governors of Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Mr Rajkhowa will "cease to hold the office," a statement from the President's House said on Monday evening.
The sacking was imminent after Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed during a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee last Wednesday that Mr Rajkhowa's position had become untenable and he had lost the centre's confidence.
The centre had earlier asked Mr Rajkhowa to resign "on health grounds" but he had defiantly refused to step down.
Advertisement
The former bureaucrat was appointed as governor last year.
Advertisement
"The Governor must remain aloof from any disagreement, discord, disharmony, discontent or dissension, within individual political parties," a five-judge constitution bench had said.
Advertisement
In February, Congress rebels led by Kalikho Pul took power with support from the BJP.
Advertisement
The government is yet to name the successors of Governors of Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"If India Had Strong Leadership In 1962...": Arunachal Governor On China Arunachal Pradesh Governor Urges Centre For More Sports Infrastructure Arunachal Governor Pitches For Appraisal System For Teachers Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death Two Sisters Returning From Court Run Over By Car In UP: Cops India Sends 1,400 kg Anti-Cancer Drugs To Syria In Humanitarian Assistance Police Arrest Suspect In Bihar Dalit Girl Kidnapping, Murder Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.