President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday gave a marching order to Aruanchal Pradesh Governor JP Rajkhowa after his refusal to quit the office. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué said Rajkhowa “shall cease to hold the office of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh”.
The President has asked Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan to discharge the additional functions of the Arunachal Governor until regular arrangements are made. Rajkhowa, who was appointed the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on May 12, 2015, was the first gubernatorial appointee of the Modi Government.
“I want the President to dismiss me. I will not resign. let the President express his displeasure. let the Government use provisions of Article 156 of the Constitution,” the Governor had told a Guwahati-based TV news channel on Monday.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had called on the President last week and conveyed to him that Rajkhowa’s continuance in the post has become untenable after the Supreme Court’s observations against him over dismissal of the Congress Government in the State.
The Home Minister’s meeting with the President came after Rajkhowa refused to step down despite a nudge by the Centre to put in his papers after the Supreme Court passed serious strictures against him over the dismissal of the Congress Government last year. A defiant Rajkhowa had said he would not step down but was ready to be sacked.
Rajkhowa, a 1968 batch IAS officer, had retired as Chief Secretary of Assam before being appointed as Governor.