Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan Refuses to Go to Mizoram, Resigns

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has resigned from his post, hours after he was transferred to Mizoram by the government. (Maharashtra Governor Transferred to Mizoram)

"Today I resigned. I have been here for four and a half years. It is not possible for me to go to Mizoram now. There is no other reason," he told media personnel on Sunday evening.

"My tongue will have another two inches from tomorrow. I am a free citizen," he said, adding that he had sent his resignation to President Pranab Mukherjee. (As Modi Government Tries to Force Exits, Governors Push Back)

When queried about why he resigned, he said, "It is not right for me to reveal reasons behind my resignation, because my feeling is that I have to honour the Constitution".

Mr Sankaranarayanan also indicated that he may return to active politics.

"As the Governor, I wasn't involved in politics. From today, I will definitely be involved in active politics," he said.

Mr Sankaranarayanan was among the dozen governors, appointed by the UPA, who were earlier asked to resign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Some governors had given in to the pressure and resigned, while others, including Mr Sankaranarayanan, had dug in their heels and refused to do so. (A Governor Says He's Not Hurt by Call to Quit. But He's Not Complying Either)

Mr Sankaranarayanan had told media personnel in mid-July that he had received two calls from Home Secretary Anil Goswami, asking him to resign, but he had refused to do so.

"The Governor's post is a constitutional post. He is a representative of the President; he is appointed by the President. If an appropriate decision making authority asks me (to quit), I will definitely think over it," he had said.

A communique issued well past Saturday midnight by the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that the 82-year-old governor had been transferred to Mizoram for the remainder of his term, which ends in 2017. Gujarat Governor Om Prakash Kohli has been asked to discharge his duties, it added.

The Congress and other Opposition parties have pointed out that in 2010, the Supreme Court had ruled that Governors cannot be removed just because a new government takes charge.