NEW DELHI, MAY 13: Acting on the Vajpayee Government's advice, President K R Narayanan today dismissed Arunachal Pradesh Governor Mata Prasad for refusing to resign and accepted West Bengal Governor A R Kidwai's resignation.While Assam Governor Lieutenant General (retd) S K Sinha has been given additonal charge of Arunachal Pradesh, acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Shyamal Kumar Sen is the Acting Governor of West Bengal.The President's action is a shot in the arm for the Vajpayee Government, which has been criticised for changing governors on extended tenures. The Opposition has said a Government which is itself on an extended tenure has no right to remove governors.A communique regarding the two states was issued by Rashtrapati Bhawan hours after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee held a 30-minute meeting with Narayanan. Vajpayee was accompanied by Home Minister L K Advani.Official sources indicated tonight the temporary gubernatorial arrangements in West Bengal and Arunachal Pradeshwould continue till September/October, when the Lok Sabha elections would be held. Further, there will be no fresh appointments or reshuffles of Governors in these states. Governors whose tenures will end in August-September will thus continue to hold office.Sources close to the PM's office say on May 8, Vajpayee had indicated to the President his desire to change at least those governors whose tenure had come to an end. Narayanan is reported to have agreed to the plan, and accordingly, the Union Home Ministry issued directives to Kidwai and Mata Prasad.While Kidwai fell in line, Prasad refused to quit saying he would resign only after the President directed him to. The defiance, it is learnt, was not appreciated by Rashtrapati Bhawan as it would have set a wrong precedent. Both the Prime Minister and Home Minister discussed the situation in Arunachal Pradesh, among other things, during their 30-minute meeting with the President.The communique only mentioned the acceptance of Kidwai's request to berelieved as West Bengal governor and the appointment of Sen and Sinha. It makes no mention of Mata Prasad being sacked.It said they would discharge the functions of governors of the two states till "a regular arrangement is made," and the appointments will take effect from the day they assume charge.
