An RTI response from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs confirms that the selection of Ms Sheila Dikshit as the Governor of Kerala was a one-man verbal directive of then Union Minister for Home Affairs Sushil Kumar Shinde.
All formalities, from the resignation of Mr Nikhil Kumar, temporary posting of Mr HR Bhardwaj, followed by the appointment of Ms Dikshit to the post, were completed within hours to beat the Model Code of Conduct which was coming into force. This is bad.
Otherwise also, it is not good that persons rejected by the people are rewarded with dignified posts. The Raj Bhavans are at times grossly misused like headquarters of the ruling party at the Centre. No such posts should be given to persons defeat at the hustings for at least five years.
Only non-politicians like retired judges or bureaucrats should be appointed as Governors, with the condition that they will not join active politics after retirement.