Prez greeted with banner against frequent shifting of

'Seven Governors in nine months is not acceptable', read a banner that greeted President Pranab Mukherjee on his arrival here on first state visit to Mizoram.
The north-eastern state has witnessed a virtual parade of gubernatorial appointees being sworn-in and shown the door since the Narendra Modi government came to power in May last year, with West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi becoming the seventh Raj Bhavan occupant recently.
Mukherjee was accorded a warm reception on his arrival here this afternoon with people lining the entire 20 km stretch from Thuampui helipad to Raj Bhavan. Mukherjee was seen happily waving at the crowds as many captured the moment on their mobile phones.

As the motorcade passed through the narrow roads of the scenic hill station that rivals Shimla and Mussoorie, some people raised placards that said 'seven Governors in nine months in not acceptable'.
Tripathi, the latest Raj Bhavan occupant, already holds additional charge of Bihar, besides being the Governor of West Bengal.
The Raj Bhavan here has seen a string of swearing-in ceremonies since the Modi government took office in May last year.

It all began when V Purushothaman resigned after being transferred to neighbouring Nagaland, saying he was not consulted.
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal, with whom Modi had several run-ins as chief minister, was then shifted to Mizoram. 87-year-old Beniwal took over as 12th Governor on July 6 but her tenure was cut short when she was sacked for alleged impropriety, a charge denied by her, a month later.

This was followed by the transfer of Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan to Mizoram. He refused to take over and quit soon after his transfer order was issued on August 24 last.
Former Union Home Secretary V K Duggal also exited and after him former Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul was given the additional charge of Mizoram along with Meghalaya till his transfer to Uttarakhand to replace Aziz Qureshi, who was sacked on March 28.
Mizoram students body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) had picketed in front of central government offices to protest against the frequent change of Governors in the state, which it called a 'gubernatorial dumping ground of unwanted governors'.

The students body is planning to hold demonstrations during the two-day Presidential visit that began today. Mukherjee is here to attend the convocation of Mizoram University.