Government in rush to fill governors' vacancies

Republic Day is leading to a tizzy in New Delhi to fill vacancies for governors in several states. Governors hoist the national flags at state capitals.

On Monday, South Block which houses the Prime Minister's Office was very active.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is understood to have given hints to the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh on appointment of the new governors in their states.

He has to hurry up to ensure that the new governors are in place by Republic Day, sources in the PMO said. They said the new governors may be appointed as early as this Friday.

Chhattisgarh Governor E S L Narasimhan is holding the additional charge of Andhra Pradesh governor after N D Tiwari had to resign in the wake of a sex scandal while Himachal Governor Prabha Rau is holding additional charge in Jaipur since December 3 following the death of Rajasthan Governor S K Singh.

Dr Singh hinted to both Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as well as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to decide the fate of Prabha Rau, a former Maharashtra PCC President who took over as Himachal Governor in July 2008.

Sources said President Pratibha Patil, who was Rajasthan's governor before moving to Rashtrapati Bhavan, has suggested that Rau be transferred to Jaipur permanently and someone else be appointed in her place in Shimla.
Similarly the PM and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah have discussed new difficulties that may surface if a new governor is appointed in place of Narasimhan, , particularly because he has been successful in quickly dousing the Telengana fire.

Sources said Rosaiah was briefed about the possible names being considered for filling the vacancy in Andhra Pradesh. They said the PMO started phoning up the chief ministers to speak to the prime minister after the latter got names cleared by Congress President Sonia Gandhi for filling various gubernatorial vacancies.

Indications are that the much-delayed appointment of the new governors in the states where the present incumbents have completed their terms may also be carried out in one go.

Meanwhile, the Congress sources said Sonia Gandhi is quite happy with Narasimhan's performance in Andhra Pradesh.
Though the ritual of hoisting the tricolour is weighing on Dr Singh's mind, Congress sources said there have been past instances when the chief ministers hoisted the flag in absence of the governor and that can be done in Hyderabad instead of replacing Narasimhan in a hurry.