Sheila Buys Time Till Onam

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit, who fuelled speculation of an imminent resignation through her meetings with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday, has bought time till the end of Onam to put in the papers.

 Sheila Dikshit had been trying to stave off the BJP-led government’s attempts to pressure her to resign with allegations linked to the conduct of Commonwealth Games and threats of transfer.

 The three-time Congress Chief Minister of  Delhi, appointed Kerala Governor by the UPA Government, drafted a quick itinerary and sought appointments in New Delhi soon after K Sankaranarayanan was forced to do a Salaam Mumbai on Sunday. She is now set to return to Kerala on Wednesday.

 “She may resign if government transfers her to Mizoram as it is being speculated after Sankaranarayanan refused to take up the job. If not, she may not resign immediately,” sources said.

 According to sources, the Governor got a short reprieve after the crucial meeting with the Home Minister. She finalised her return trip for Wednesday, after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday afternoon. In the evening, she also had a meeting with her doctor.

 Sheila Dikshit, who had scheduled a visit to New Delhi to attend a marriage function there, advanced the dates after getting wind of  the move to shunt her out.