NEW DELHI, 26 October 2004 — Rajasthan Gov. Madan Lal Khurana, a senior BJP leader and former chief minister of Delhi, resigned yesterday saying he was compelled to quit because of “problems faced by Delhiites.” “It was my biggest mistake to accept the assignment last January” when the former National Democratic Alliance government appointed him governor, he said after handing in his resignation to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Had he remained in “active politics” without being sent to Rajasthan, Khurana said, the BJP’s electoral performance would have been better. “We would have bagged at least two or three of the seven seats against one we got in Delhi. In (neighboring) Haryana also, we would have got a minimum of two to three of the nine seats and not just one,” he said.
Khurana’s ouster was in the making since last week when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government decided to sack or transfer the governors of several states. At stake is the tenure of Muhammad Fazal (Maharashtra), Viren J. Shah (West Bengal), M.M. Rajendran (Orissa), V. C. Pandey (Arunachal Pradesh) and Ved Marwah (Jharkhand). Since their tenure ends before the year is out, indications are that they will be replaced. Tamil Nadu Gov. Ram Mohan Rao and Goa Gov. S.C. Jamir are likely to be moved out to other states.
The other governors whose fate hangs in the balance include S.S. Barnala (Andhra Pradesh) and Rama Jois (Bihar). Barnala and Jois are identified with the previous BJP-led government.
