New Delhi:
The government today justified sacking Mizoram governor Kamla Beniwal - just two months before her term was to end - as it confronted opposition allegations of "vendetta politics".
Ms Beniwal, who had sharp differences with Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister, has been removed for "gross impropriety," say sources.
She had been shifted from Gujarat to Mizoram exactly a month ago.
"Action was taken within rules, as per Constitution. There are serious allegations. The government has taken serious note of her conduct," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, denying any politics behind the move.
Government sources cite Ms Beniwal's record of frequent air travel at taxpayers' expense in Gujarat., where she was governor in 2009-2014. She reportedly used the state aircraft, a nine-seat Beechcraft, 53 times to fly to her hometown Jaipur.
Sources say Ms Beniwal's sacking is also linked to her alleged involvement in a land scam in Rajasthan. She is accused of claiming land meant for farmers after falsely stating in affidavits that she had tilled the land for 14 to 16 hours a day for 50 years, though she was a minister in the state's Congress government.
Opposition parties, however, allege that the 87-year-old was punished for taking on Mr Modi in Gujarat, the state he ruled for 13 years before taking charge as Prime Minister in May.
Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "She was first transferred in a cavalier manner to a northeastern state and then removed. Governors are constitutional authorities. They cannot be trampled upon or trifled with like this."
It is "clear political vendetta", added Congress ally Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party, citing a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that a "change in government at the Centre is not a ground for removal of Governors to make way for others favoured by the new government."
As Gujarat governor, Ms Beniwal had challenged the Modi government on the appointment of a Lokayukta, or anti-corruption ombudsman. She was also accused of stalling state legislation.
Days after coming to power, the ruling BJP dialed governors appointed by the previous Congress-led UPA to persuade them to step down. Six governors resigned but some refused to budge. Veteran Congressman Virendra Kataria was removed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry recently.