A recent video of the Odisha governor that has been widely circulated, has again brought the focus back on the role of Governors and the string of controversies that have cropped up over the years.
Odisha’s newly appointed Governor Braj Mohan Ram had stepped into a controversy even before he took oath, saying he would strengthen the party organisation among the state’s Scheduled Castes community in Odisha and work to ensure that the BJP gets as many votes as possible.
then Governor Thakur Ram Lal without waiting for his return or holding a floor test, dismissed his government and installed rebel leader N Bhaskara Rao as Chief Minister While then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao was in the US undergoing coronary bypass surgery. After massive public outrage, he resigned and NTR was reinstated. Governor Syed Sibtey Razi ignored the NDA’s majority and instead invited Shibu Soren of the Congress-allied JMM to form government. A statement by then Governor Kalyan Singh led to a major controversy. “We all are BJP workers and we want the BJP to emerge victorious. We want that once again Modi ji should become the Prime Minister.
The BJP-led NDA allied with 5 Independent MLAs for a majority and proposed to form government. In the Rameshwar Prasad vs Union of India case, the Supreme Court said in 2006 that the Governor cannot act to preserve or advance the political interests of a particular party. In 2016, in the Nabam Rebia versus Deputy Speaker case, the top court said the Governor’s discretion should not override democratic principles or undermine the Council of ministers.
The Opposition parties have said it places a huge question mark on the neutrality needed by one who would occupy the constitutional office of the Governor. The BJP formally met the President of India demanding his recall, stating that Bhardwaj was acting as a “Congress activist” trying to bring down an elected government. It is important for the country and the society,” he had said.
