New Delhi, October 22
The UPA government has begun its exercise to replace certain Governors and finalise names for those states whose Governors are due for retirement in the next couple of months.
As part of this exercise, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil initiated the process of consultations in this regard with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam yesterday.
According to informed sources, Andhra Pradesh Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala, Rajasthan Governor Madan Lal Khurana, Goa Governor S.C. Jamir and Tamil Nadu Governor P.S. Ram Mohan Rao are likely to be either transferred or dropped.
Among the names doing rounds for appointment as new Governors include Haryana leader Bansi Lal, who merged his Haryana Vikas Party with the Congress recently and Uttaranchal Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari, who is not keeping good health.
According to sources, the Congress is keen on Bansi Lal’s appointment as Governor, as it wanted to avoid confrontation among its Haryana unit leaders ahead of the coming Assembly polls in the state.
New Governors are likely to be appointed in Maharastra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa, where the tenure of most of the incumbents is coming to an end in the next two months.
The tenures of Viren Shah (West Bengal), M.M. Rajendran (Orissa), Mohammad Fazal (Maharashtra), V.C. Pandey (Arunachal Pradesh) and Ved Marwah (Jharkhand) are ending by December end.
