The sacking of two governors by the BJP government, the latest being Mizoram governor Dr Kamala Beniwal, has sent shock waves among remaining governors who were appointed by the UPA.
An agitated Virender Kataria, former governor of Puducherry, is even weighing options to challenge his sacking in the Supreme Court to "save his honour".
The Congress too is exploring options to stop what they see as gross unconstitutional act against which the Supreme Court had passed directions in 2010. "We won't allow this witch-hunting to go uncontested," a party source said.
Speaking to dna, Kataria said: "My sacking was purely an act of vendetta politics. I am deeply hurt as the Supreme Court judgment clearly says change in government at the Centre is not a ground for removal of governors holding office to make way for others favoured by the new government."
"My sacking has given way to rumours of me being corrupt. I cannot take these allegations... I challenge the government to disclose what evidence it has against me. I don't want governorship. I am considering going to the court to protect my honour."
But Dr Kamala Beniwal does not seem to having a similar cushion, as the Centre readied a dossier on the list of allegations against her and sent it to the president at the time of recommending her sacking.
Listing the allegations, the note said, "The governor is an important constitutional authority and is also the executive head of the state. The expectation is that the governor should not be involved in any personal issue that would invite adverse criticism and lower the dignity of the office of the governor."
A senior government source said there is enough material against Beniwal and she would not like to open a Pandora's Box by going to the court.
Some of the allegations against Beniwal are:
Unethical involvement while being the governor of Gujarat in the Kisan Samuhik Krishi Cooperative Society, Jhotwada, Jaipur, Rajasthan where she was nominated as a beneficiary of a 1516 sqm plot.
Supreme Court strictures indicting her for blatantly misusing the office when she was a revenue minister of Rajasthan.
Keeping the Gujarat Lokayukta (amendment) bill pending for inordinately prolonged periods in spite of apparent financial loss that was being caused to the state of which she was the executive head.
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