President, vice-president and state governors post should be kept beyond party politics, said 82-year-old outgoing Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan on Sunday, who submitted his resignation to President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday.
Sankaranarayanan's transfer to Mizoram, which prompted his resignation, was a political move by the BJP-led government at the Centre, which has decided to shunt all governors appointed by the earlier Congress-led UPA government.
Going to Mizoram out of question
"I am sure that my resignation will be approved by the honourable President of India. After working in Maharashtra for four-and-a-half years, it is not feasible for me to go to Mizoram. I have worked as a governor in many states but have never let politics interfere with the discharging of my constitutional duty. I have had very friendly relationships with all political parties, including the Shiv Sena and the BJP. The decision of my transfer seems to be politically motivated. The media and people are shrewd enough to decide whether it is political vendetta working against me. However, I abide by the decision and respect the constitutions because the President has the right to transfer a governor. I have honoured the constitution by submitting my resignation to President," said Sankaranarayanan.\
Should respect democracy
"From Monday, I will be a free citizen of India. All political parties have to do politics, but they should not drag constitutional posts into it. The President, vice-president and governor's posts should be kept out of the impact of politics. Democracy is supreme, we should respect it," he said.
"I will start working for the Congress. However, I am thankful to people from Maharashtra. I got so much support during my tenure as governor. I am really happy with my tenure and work," said Sankaranarayanan.
Governments will keep changing
He admitted that the Congress had also indulged in similar politics earlier. "It should not be done by any political party. The power at the centre will eventually change. No government will remain in power permanently, so the constitutional posts should not be brought into party politics," he said.
Kohli takes charge
Meanwhile, the governor of Gujarat Om Prakash Kohli took additional charge as Maharashtra governor. On Sunday evening, in presence of Sankaranarayanan, the guard of honour was given to Kohli.
Background info
Sankaranarayanan is a senior Congress politician from Kerala and has held several important posts including that of state minister for finance, agriculture and other portfolios. He was also the convenor of the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Congress-led ruling combine in Kerala.
He was first appointed governor of Nagaland, and then moved to Jharkhand. His first posting as governor of Maharashtra was on January 22, 2010 and have held the post for for over four-and-a-half years.
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