After AP, Will Telangana Get New Governor Too?

The appointment of senior BJP leader Biswa Bhushan Harichandan as Governor of Andhra Pradesh by the President has raised speculation over the future of Telangana Governor E S L Narasimhan, who has been the Governor from December 2009 when Telangana was part of AP, and who has had a surprisingly long stint, even being Governor of both States even after the bifurcation.

Two theories are currently doing the rounds in the corridors of politics in the State - one that Telangana will have a new Governor in place of Narasimhan, and another that Narasimhan might get an extension for some more time.

Narasimhan is a former IPS officer and is known for his no-nonsense attitude. However, his proximity to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has not gone down well with the BJP leaders in the State. A section of BJP leaders from Telangana are saying that Narasimhan will have to go to make way for someone with BJP loyalties. They say that this is also part of a BJP strategy to consolidate its position in all the south-Indian States after already having done that in the north-Indian States.

"Of the 35 Governors in the country, 30 have been appointed by us, and all either have an RSS background or are sympathisers of the party. The new Governor appointed by us for Andhra Pradesh was also a Jana Sangh leader in the early 1970s, and a five-term BJP MLA from Odisha. If we have our own leaders as Governors in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, it will become easy for us to improve our strength in the two States. That is not possible with a non-political person as the Governor," a senior BJP leader said.

Another section of BJP leaders however says that Narasimhan will be continued for some more time by the Centre due to his vast experience as Governor of the State.