Chennai, October 29
Ending a month-long controversy, Tamil Nadu Governor P.S. Ramamohan Rao today sent in his resignation to the President, after the Union Home Ministry sent signals to him that he was no more wanted and the Supreme Court declined to stay his removal or transfer.

Though Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa made many moves to retain him, including moving the Supreme Court till a few hours before he quit, Mr Rao wanted his resignation to be accepted with effect from November 2.

In a press statement issued from the Raj Bhavan here on his resignation, Mr. Rao defended himself against some major accusations levelled by the Opposition parties in the state, especially the charge that he had failed to appreciate the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and act accordingly.

The former Andhra Pradesh police chief gave a clean chit to the ruling AIADMK on the law and order issue and argued that his judgement would have come under question only if he had agreed with “contentious” representations submitted to him by Opposition parties.

Mr Rao is the third National Democratic Alliance appointed Governor to resign in the last few days.

However, during his tenure Mr Rao was accused of being partial towards the ruling party and that he ignored the “deteriorating law and order situation”. He was accused of turning a blind eye to the ruling party’s alleged violation of Constitutional norms in the conduct of the Assembly and in promulgating ordinances and giving assent to Bills.

The AIADMK had alleged that Mr Rao's removal was imminent, as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a constituent of ruling UPA at the Centre, wanted him removed immediately.