Governor-TRS row moves from pinpricks to barbs

Hyderabad: Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan has opened a can of worms, wittingly or unwittingly, by coming out in the open against Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, _aka_ KCR, at a recent press conference in New Delhi. Her media interaction followed a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The TRS top echelons have been apprehensive for long about Dr Tamilisai's overtures with the BJP and the Center against the TRS. The epicenter of the latest controversy, over the Governor's relations with the BJP, can be traced to the tweets of AIMIM supremo and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Senior Owaisi's tweet was preceded by an NDTV journalist from Chennai, suggesting that the Tamil Nadu BJP PRO (functionary) was covertly working as the PR man of the Telangana Governor.

The press secretary of the Governor's office, however, denied the allegations through an official communique and asserted that, the gubernatorial responsibility was bounden by the Constitution of India. "The news was being spread on social media that a person from a political party had been appointed as the PRO of the Governor of Telangana. This news is devoid of any facts. It is totally baseless and also not true. No such person from any political party has been appointed in the past. Also presently, nobody from any political party is working in the Governor's office. This news is being spread by individuals with vested interests and with ulterior motives. Telangana Rajbhavan has always been maintaining political neutrality," the statement said.

However, screenshots from the official twitter handle of the Governor reflect that the BJP activities in Tamil Nadu, and elsewhere are endorsed by Dr Tamilisai.

The constitutional authority -- Office of the Governor — has always been at the core of controversies, in undivided Andhra Pradesh and also post bifurcation of the State. We are not dwelling at length into the skirmishes between the State government and governors of those respective states like West Bengal, Karnataka (recall the time a few years ago), Kerala and many others.

The Telugu Desam founder-Chief Minister N.T Rama Rao was the first one to raise the banner of revolt against the office of the Governor. He was dismissed by Governor Ram Lal then in the infamous August coup of 1984.

And the Governor had been thrown out by the Centre before reinstating NTR within a month. Late NTR's love-hate relationship with the office of the Governor had always made headlines.

The serious difference between Governor Kumudben Joshi and NTR had stirred up Constitutional questions that remained unanswered, of course. The governors appointed by the Congress dispensations have many a time tried to dabble with local politics in their respective states. Ditto with the BJP after it came to power with its own absolute majority in the Lok Sabha.

Dr Marri Channa Reddy, when he was the Governor of Tamil Nadu, once said at a meeting in Hyderabad that: "A Governor's function was political in nature and how does anyone expect a politician to thrive sans playing politics in the role assigned to him/her?"

During the infamous palace coup in 1995, the role of then Governor Krishan Kant (who later served as the Vice-President of India) was called to question by the deposed Chief Minister N T Rama Rao.

The role of ESL Narsimhan, as the Governor of united Andhra Pradesh, always drew flak from the rank and file of the TRS which branded the Governor as 'anti- Telangana' personality. However, Narsimhan, an 'intelligent' intelligence cop, and Chief Minister KCR eventually demonstrated astute statesmanship in their relations with great alacrity and gave no scope for asinine commentary.

The emotional farewell to the Narsimhan Couple, by KCR and Co at the Begumpet Airport is vividly recalled by many. The initial 'protocolish' camaraderie between Dr Tamilisai and KCR, did not last too long. The avoidance of showing up at the Raj Bhavan by the Chief Minister even on ceremonial occasions like the recent Republic Day exposed the widening chasm between the Governor and the government. Junking the customary address of the Governor to joint meeting of the legislature to commence the budget session, on the pretext of the sessions not being prorogued, unveiled the ugly side of differences between the Raj Bhavan and Pragati Bhavan.

Senior leaders of the TRS have been raising a pointer at the Governors proactive and reactive acts of omission and commission, as premeditated and politically motivated. Dr Tamilisai, however, has been maintaining that she is discharging her Constitutional obligations 'without any fear or favor, affection or ill-will'. The responsibility of the constitutional offices have been well defined in the rule book that guides the spirit of the nation's governance. Abiding by the Constitution and implanting the same in its letter and also spirit will always be hailed by people who look up to the high offices.