Governors appointed during UPA's tenure resist pressure to resign

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan today appeared to have dug his heels in against Centre's request to him to quit as some more of his counterparts in other states kept up their defiance.

Two days after Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami called some of the Governors appointed during UPA government's tenure to resign in the wake of change of government in the Centre, pressure appears to have been mounted to secure their resignation but nothing was in the offing.

While West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan, who is said to be one of those called by Goswami, today said he has not resigned "yet", Sankaranarayanan said he would consider quitting only if an "appropriate decision-making authority" asks him to do so.

"Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami called me twice during last week (asking to demit office). I didn't reply to him anything...the Governor's post is a constitutional post. He is a representative of the President, he is appointed by the President. No responsible person has asked me anything in writing to (be) relieved of the post.

"There is no vacuum in the Governor's post. No position in a democracy is permanent. If an appropriate decision-making authority asks me (to quit), I will definitely think over it," he told a Malayalam TV channel.

82-year-old Sankaranarayanan has been serving as Maharashtra Governor since January 22, 2010. He took oath as Governor of the state for a second time on May 7, 2012 after the President granted him a fresh term of 5 years.

Meanwhile, Karantaka Governor H R Bharadwaj met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and spoke in riddles about resignation.

There was speculation that Nagaland Governor Ashwini Kumar may tender resignation soon.