NDA government's move to replace governors politically motivated, says Congress

The opposition Congress party has termed the alleged move of the NDA-led government at the Centre to replace six UPA-appointed governors as politically motivated.

Congress leader Shobha Oza said, "Governors and all commissions have a fixed tenure, and I believe that all governments must allow them to complete their tenure."

Former union minister PC Chacko said, "This is a kind of witch-hunting. Let them look after the priority areas like price rise. Whatever is the precedent in this matter, that is to be looked into. In democracy, precedent is very important. According to that, we will take a decision."

Congress leader, Rashid Alvi told ANI, "I believe that if they respect the Supreme Court's order, then, they will not take such steps, this is all I can say."

Congress leader from Gujarat Shaktisinh Gohil said, "After 2004, the matter is settled legally, and it is decided, and the settled law is that governors are constitutional heads, and because there is a change in government, governors should not resign or be asked to do so."

"In 2004, the NDA and the BJP shouted and said this is an insult. They are constitutional heads they cannot be removed, now they are practising different yardsticks, now that is legally settled, I don't think the Government should do it," Gohil added.

According to television reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to be mulling the idea of removing at least six Congress loyalist governors and replace them with BJP appointees.

Among the governors likely to be told to go are Sheila Dikshit in Kerala, K Rosiah in Tamil Nadu, MK Narayan in West Bengal, Shivraj Patil in Punjab, Margaret Alva in Rajasthan, K Sankaranarayanan in Maharashtra and BL Joshi in Uttar Pradesh.