"Being the head of the family, it is my duty to see that things work"

But Bhan has certainly taken one leaf out of his controversial predecessor’s book: keeping a vigil over the functioning of the Kalyan Singh Government. Beginning July, the Governor will hold division-level meetings of officials and people’s representatives and will also go to each of the 83 districts to keep the officials “tuned”. No Governor in India has done so while an elected Government is in office.

In a conversation with Amit Sharma, Bhan said that by calling division-levelmeetings, he was not encroaching the rights of the Chief Minister. Excerpts from the interview:
How does it feel to be the successor of the most controversial Governor in recent times? What changes have you brought to Raj Bhavan to change the Bhandari culture?

Every new person brings some changes. I too have done this. Now anybody can come to Raj Bhavan and I assure you that the place will never create any controversy. Whatever I have to do, I will do it through the Government and I have no ambition to work as a parallel chief minister.

Don’t you think that by going for the division-level meetings and by asking the Government to maintain parks named after Ambedkar and other Dalit leaders, you too are interfering in Government affairs?

There is nothing wrong in my calling the division-level meetings. Being the head of the family, it is my duty also to see that things work in a proper manner. I have decided to hold these meetings in which local Rajya Sabha members, Lok Sabha members, MLAsand MLCs will be invited and I will assess the situation through their views. As for the parks, I have no hesitation in admitting that I have asked the Government to keep the Saint Ravidas Park at Varanasi in a proper condition. But this is not for promoting interests of a particular community.

It is not surprising that the BSP had planned an agitation against you in Lucknow on May 21 and not against Kalyan Singh who should be blamed for the neglect of parks which the BSP wanted to highlight. Does the BSP fear that there is a move from the BJP to make inroads into the dalit vote bank by placing you as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh?

It will be better if you ask this question to the BSP. My party has entrusted me with a responsibility and I am here to discharge it. But this should be made clear that I will emphasise on ensuring better education and other facilities to SCs, backward castes and the minority community and also protect the interests of farmers. This again should not be taken as I amsafeguarding the interests of a few. I am only ensuring them what has been highlighted in the Constitution.

Some opposition members are trying to highlight the fact that with you expressing concern at the law and order situation and stalling development works, the state is heading for a constitutional crisis.

I was misquoted on the law and order issue. I said in Varanasi that there is room for improvement in all spheres including law and order but I was reported as saying that the situation was bad. The UP Government is functioning in a proper manner and it should be appreciated that it has taken some qualitative measures for improvement on the law and order front. It is for the opposition to justify how the state is heading for a crisis under the present circumstances.

What do you think about the feeling within the party that your appointment is a subtle move of the leadership to keep a check on Kalyan Singh and you are corroborating it by your actions?

I have nothing to do with whatimpression is being created about me. But the fact is that I am here not to work as a parallel CM. I will again like to stress that I will never allow the Raj Bhavan to become the centre of a controversy.