Governor Mk Narayanan with actor-director Aparna Sen at a recentr function in Kolkata.

After quizzed by CBI on choppers, Bengal Governor MK Narayanan quits

What good it will do is a subject for those who made this happen: State

Agency Report | Kolkata | 30 June, 2014 | 07:50 PM

West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan has resigned, becoming the fourth Governor to quit since a BJP-led government took office last month.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee told the media that the 79-year-old Narayanan’s last day of work will be Friday.

Saying the state government was “deeply pained” by Narayanan’s “sudden resignation”, Chatterjee made an oblique criticism of the Narendra Modi government.

“What good it will do to the state is a subject for those who made this happen,” said the minister.

“I am deeply pained at his sudden resignation… We didn’t expect this. We have lost a guardian who used to give us advice and used to think about the state.

“We will be in touch with him, but it is a matter of regret that he won’t be involved in the state’s activities,” said Chatterjee.

Parrying questions on the developments that prompted West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan to demit office, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said she would not comment now on the “constitutional post”.

“This is a constitutional post. Now I won’t say anything on it,” Banerjee told media persons while disclosing that Narayanan would officially leave July 4.

Banerjee said the state government would not accord a farewell to Narayanan. “I don’t believe in giving farewell. Rather I believe in welcoming a person,” she said.

Narayanan, who was appointed national security advisor to the prime minister in January 2005 by the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance government, took over as the West Bengal governor Jan 24, 2010.

A former Intelligence Bureau chief, Narayanan was questioned by the CBI on Friday regarding the purchase of AgustaWestland VVIP helicopters by the erstwhile UPA regime.

Mizoram Governor Vakkom B. Purushothaman on Monday took additional charge as the governor of Tripura.

Purushothaman was sworn-in by Tripura High Court Chief Justice Deepak Gupta at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan here.

Purushothaman, an 86-year-old veteran Congress leader who served in his native state Kerala as a minister and the assembly speaker and was also elected to the Lok Sabha twice, was appointed Mizoram governor by then president Pratibha Patil in August 2011.

He replaced Devanand Konwar, who was transferred to Tripura from Bihar March 25 last year and completed his tenure Saturday.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, his cabinet colleagues, leaders of various political parties and army and police officials were present during the ceremony. (IANS)