NEW DELHI: The NDA Government has finalised the list of candidates who will replace UPA-appointed governors and a formal order in this regard is likely to be issued soon.
Express on July 13 broke the story that former Petroleum Min Ram Naik’s name was finalised for the post of UP Governor, after B L Joshi put in his papers last month. Sources said candidates to fill the post in the Raj Bhawans at Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram would be announced soon, adding that BJP leaders Kesri Nath Tripathi, V K Malhotra, Kailash Joshi and B D Tandon have already been chosen for the posts by Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The names of O Rajagopal, Lalji Tandon and Soli Sorabjee are also doing the rounds for gubernatorial positions. The NDA Govt had prepared a list of governors it was planning to replace, triggering massive debate over the move. However, acknowledging the signal from the Home Ministry, several governors including B V Wanchoo (Goa), M K Narayanan (WB), B L Joshi (UP), Shekhar Dutt (Chhattisgarh) and Ashwani Kumar (Nagaland) quit.
However, Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan, Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit , Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia and Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil remained in the respective Raj Bhawans despite pressure from the Centre.
According to sources, Pahadia is likely to complete his tenure as he is due to retire on July 26. Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva too may escape the chopping list as she will complete her tenure on August 5, 2014.