Transferred from Maharashtra to Mizoram, Sankaranarayanan quits

Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, who was early Sunday abruptly transferred to Mizoram for the rest of his term, has announced his resignation.

"I have sent my resignation to President Pranab Mukherjee," Sankaranarayanan told media persons at Raj Bhavan here.

Justifying his decision, the 82-year-old Congress leader said he had "respected the Constitution" by submitting his resignation.

"During my tenure here as governor, and even earlier in Jharkhand and Nagaland, I never brought politics into my functioning," Sankaranarayanan said.

In a veiled attack on the Narendra Modi government's decision to transfer him to Mizoram, he said: "No government is permanent, no individuals are permanent and they have to change some time."

Sankaranarayanan, who was re-appointed Maharashtra governor in 2012, thanked the people of the state for all their love and support during his tenure.

He added that from Monday, he would work only as a Congressman, the party which he had joined decades ago as a grassroots leader in Kerala, and later risen up the ranks.

"From tomorrow, I shall have no restrictions, I can do whatever I want, go wherever I want and speak on any topic," he said in a cheerful and relaxed mood.

A Congress veteran from Kerala, Sankaranarayanan, who was transferred as Maharashtra governor in 2010, was re-appointed for a second term in 2012. Earlier, he served stints in Jharkhand and Nagaland for three years.

Gujarat Governor Om Prakash Kohli has been given additional charge of Maharashtra.