From Governor to probable Vice President of India, why ESL Narasimhan is getting all the praise
- The orders were issued by the central government after the tenure of Narasimhan came to an end on May 2
- His chances of becoming Vice President are pretty high
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Governor ESL Narasimhan has been asked to extend his term temporarily in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, until the Presidential elections are held. The orders were issued by the central government after the tenure of Narasimhan came to an end on May 2nd. Narasimhan began his term as Governor of the united Andhra Pradesh in 2009 and post the bifurcation he was given charge of Telangana as well.
It has been the year of the BJP, slowly and systematically the Bharatiya Janata Party is making inroads into states and areas which were once strongholds of other parties. The results of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh elections being examples of the saffron wave that has been sweeping India. In almost all posts of governance in the country you have a member of the BJP calling the shots.
Coming back to the Governor of AP/Telangana, his chances of becoming Vice President are pretty high as for the election only members of both the Houses will be involved. Judging by the strength the BJP holds in the Parliament that should not be tough vote to cast.
But it would be taking away from Narasimhan’s capabilities if we were to award his elevation (if it happens) to just being favouritism. The Governor has worked his way to reach this position today.
WORKED THROUGH TWO REGIMES
His credentials speak for him being chosen as governor for three states now including Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Narasimhan belongs to the 1968 batch of IPS from Andhra Pradesh cadre. He served as the First Secretary in the Moscow Embassy from 1981 to 1984. He later served as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau until he retired on December 31, 2006. He was then made the Governor of Chhattisgarh from 2007 to 2010.
But after the Telangana agitation peaked, Narasimhan was made AP governor in January 2010. On May 3, 2012, the Manmohan Singh government gave him a second five-year tenure that ended this year. Interestingly, Narasimhan is the only UPA appointed governor to have gotten along well with the powers that be.
Other than that rumours are also doing round that since Narasimhan is pals with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, maybe, just maybe he could put in a word for his friend.
PIVOTAL POINTS
Becoming Andhra Pradesh Governor was not as an easy task. He was considered to be a strong advocate for a united AP and so was at the receiving end of the pro-Telangana activists who had even accused him of trying to sabotage the formation of the new state.
Later on the tables turned, Narasimhan had been criticised by the Telangana Congress saying that instead of remaining neutral in his capacity as a constitutional head, Narasimhan was openly heaping praises on Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Even AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu could not help but echo the sentiments.
Interestingly, it is this see-sawing and managing to run two rocky boats at the same time is what got him noticed at the Centre. Despite the two states being regularly out to ridicule the other, it could be because of his excellent diplomatic skills that Modi does not need to bother about two Telugu states who have the ability to disrupt the peace of South India.
Among his major achievements will be how he brought about a kind of profitable barter between the two states in the case of employment and sharing of assets. The governments of TS and AP reached an agreement on division of electricity and Secretariat employees. The two governments also reached agreement on sharing of funds of nine corporations listed in Schedule IX of the AP Reorganisation Act.
Also upping his chances are that some of the tips given by him to Modi when the country had launched a surgical strike on Pakistan. Reports claim that the PM was impressed with his contribution. His insights as the former Director of the Intelligence Bureau helped immensely.
