Maha Gov K Sankaranarayanan quits after transfer order

Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan today resigned from the post hours after he was transferred to Mizoram by the government.

"I sent my resignation today to the President of India.... It is not possible for me to go to Mizoram," Sankaranarayan said in a press conference here.

"I will return to active politics," said the 82-year-old veteran Congress leader from Kerala. He was among the UPA-appointed Governors who were asked to resign by the new BJP government. But, he had refused to do so. His tenure ends in 2017.

He said as governors in various states, he never played any politics.

"I was friendly with all political parties, friendly with the BJP also...Shiv Sena...all the political parties. Because I have no politics, because I am the governor," he said.

The governors are appointed by the President and the President has powers to transfer the governors, he said.

"My feeling is that I have to honour the Constitution--the Magna Carta for governors. I have to abide that, I did that," he said.

Sankaranarayanan thanked the people of Maharashtra for the support they extended to him during his tenure.

Asked whether the move is part of political vendetta, he said, "That is up to you people to comment about it. Our press people are so shrewd, so capable, so intelligent."

"I actually supported the Constitution," he said, adding, "We want the prestige and status of the governors in future also."

"In a democratic set up, no government is permanent... no post is permanent, that will change. Democracy is bigger than anything, we are one of the biggest democratic countries in the world," he added.

Sankaranarayanan was among the first batch of governors telephoned by Home Secretary Anil Goswami to put in their papers after change of government at the Centre.

In an apparent bid to ease him out, the government shunted him to Mizoram after he had refused to quit.

A Rashtrapati Bhawan communique issued late last night had said that Sankaranarayanan has been shifted to Mizoram and Gujarat Governor OP Kohli has been asked to discharge his duties.

He has been serving as Governor of Maharashtra since 22 January, 2010. He took oath as Governor of Maharashtra for a second time on May 7, 2012 after the President granted him a fresh term of five.