Karnataka Chief Minister upset over new Governor

Former Governor of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh Rameshwar Thakur assumed office as the 15th Governor of Karnataka yesterday amid resentment by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy over the Federal Government’s failure to consult him over its choice.

Expressing strong displeasure over the manner in which the Federal Government appointed a new Governor for Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the Federal Government should have consulted him in the matter in view of the impending transfer of power from the JD (S) to BJP in the State.

Kumaraswamy regretted that the Federal Government had given a go-by to the convention of seeking the preference of State Governments before taking a final decision on the appointment of a Governor.

He claimed that Federal Home Minister Shivraj Patil telephoned him four days ago and merely informed him about the appointment of a new Governor. “He did not bother to consult me on the issue. This development has taken place at this crucial juncture of transfer of power from the JD (S) to the BJP. The Federal Government should think twice in such matters as it is a very sensitive issue”, Kumaraswamy said.

He also added that the outgoing Governor T N Chaturvedi, who had been appointed by the erstwhile National Democratic Alliance (NDA), had an excellent relationship with the coalition Government. “He never embarrassed the Government at any point of time”, he said.

However, Rameshwar Thakur, a veteran Congressman, was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice Cyriac Joseph at a function at the Glass House of Raj Bhavan at 12 noon yesterday.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, outgoing Governor T N Chaturvedi, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, leaders of the Opposition Congress Dharam Singh, H K Patil and M Mallikarjun Kharge, besides a host of Ministers were also present on the occasion.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by Thakur’s wife Narmada, his daughters Mrudulla Sinha and Sangeeta Thakur among other members of the family.


Earlier in the day, Thakur was accorded a warm reception on his arrival at the airport in Bangalore. Thakur will hold the gubernatorial post in Karnataka till November 18, 2009, according to a Presidential communique.