Narayanan reported to have resigned as West Bengal Governor

M.K. Narayanan has reportedly resigned as the Governor of West Bengal today after completing more than four years of his five-year term.

The reported resignation comes days after Narayanan was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for two hours at his official residence in Kolkata in connection with the sale of 12 VVIP choppers to India by AgustaWestland, an Anglo-Italian defence manufacturer.

During his tenure as National Security Advisor in 2005, Narayanan had attended meetings where technical specifications were amended for the 12 helicopters that the government wanted to buy for the use of the Prime Minister and the President, among others. The changes ensured that AgustaWestland qualified for the contract.

The 3600-crore deal which was signed in 2010 was cancelled in January this year by India over allegations that kickbacks were paid by AgustaWestland and its parent company, Italian defence giant Finnmeccanica.

Narayanan was one of the governors whose resignation was being sought by the Modi Government.

B.L Joshi was the first to resign as Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Shekhar Dutt also followed suit by tendering his resignation as Chhattisgarh Governor.