President Draupadi Murmu, on Sunday, accepted the resignation of Maharashtra's controversial governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and appointed Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais in his place. Koshiyari had become a big political liability for the ruling BJP because of his highly controversial statements which were used by the opposition to turn the heat of the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis coalition government. It is learnt that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mumbai on January 19, he had hinted to Koshiyari that he may be eased out of the Raj Bhavan. The decision about the acceptance of his letter was apparently conveyed to him during Modi's visit to the city on February 10. Apart from the Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), several leaders of the BJP itself had wanted Koshiyari removed well before the BMC elections lest his statements become a poll issue.
Among other things, Koshiyari had belittled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who is regarded as the presiding deity of Maharashtra. He had also spoken disparagingly about Maharashtrians and more recently he had poured venom on intellectuals. Initially, the BJP had rallied around Koshiyari because he had furthered the agenda of the party. He had sworn in the government of Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar early morning in a hush hush manner. It is a different matter that this government lasted for only a few hours.
Koshiyari had also blocked the MVA'S nominees for the state legislative council. His relationship with the erstwhile chief minister Uddhav Thackeray was so cold that they stopped talking to each other even while sharing the same dais. The Congress and NCP have welcomed the removal of Koshiyari.
Governor-designated Bais is expected to be sworn in later this week. Born on August 2, 1947 in Raipur he is a veteran politician who has been with the BJP. His educational qualification is given in an official press release as high secondary education. He was a member of the Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly for several years before being elected to the 9th Lok Sabha during which he was a member of the consultative committees attached to various ministries. In 1998-99 he was the Union minister of state for steel and mines. He was re-elected to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999 and inducted in the Union ministry and given charge as minister of state in different ministries.
He enjoys a good equation with deputy CM Fadnavis and he is expected to steer the Raj Bhavan of all controversies.
