J.P. Rajkhowa removed as Arunachal Governor

In a major development, President Pranab Mukerjee on Monday directed that J.P. Rajkhowa shall cease to hold the office of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

The President has appointed V. Shanmuganathan, Governor of Meghalaya, to discharge the functions of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, in addition to his own duties, until regular arrangements for the office of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh are made.

The move comes after Rajkhowa said on September 6th that he would not resign despite being asked by the Centre to step down on medical grounds, saying that he wanted the President to dismiss him.

"I want the President to dismiss me. I will not resign. Let the President express his displeasure. Let the government use provisions of Article 156 of the Constitution," the Governor told a Guwahati-based TV news channel.

On July 13, the Supreme Court had ordered restoration of the Congress government in the state, declared the decision taken by Rajkhowa as "unconstitutional", which first led to imposition of President's rule and then formation of a new government led by a breakaway faction of the Congress.