NEW DELHI, June 19 ? The hunt is on for a new Governor for Assam, as the NDA Government is undecided over sanctioning Assam Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha an extension for the second term and may instead appoint a BJP man to the top post. While the possibility of the former Vice Chief of Army Staff of being re-nominated is not being ruled out for now, stiff opposition from State BJP unit, which apparently wants him replaced, may mar his chances. The State BJP unit, according to sources in the party, has had on the eve of the AGP-BJP alliance even petitioned Union Home Minister, L K Advani to recall the Governor. Lt Gen Sinha, whose term expires on August 31, had incurred the wrath of a section of BJP state unit for his role in forging the pre-poll alliance between the regional party and BJP.
Meanwhile, former, Chief Minister Sri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, it may be mentioned here enjoys a close rapport with Lt General Sinha and the bonds became even more stronger after he was bailed out from being implicated in the multi-crore LoC scam. The CBI was denied permission to prosecute Sri Mahanta on the ground of insufficient evidence against him by the Governor that triggered a lot of controversy. Significantly, Sri Mahanta, who had been camping in the capital for the past two months, had suddenly become very active calling on the President and Prime Minister besides other top Central leaders.
According to reports doing the rounds in the capital, Sri Mahanta has also shown keen interest in taking over as Meghalaya Governor, while the Centre is willing to offer a smaller State in Western India. Sri Mahanta has, however, dismissed these reports, though he has been maintaining a stoic silence about the purpose of his unexpected visits to the NDA central leaders. But sources close to Lt General Sinha?s camp claimed that he is almost certain to get a re-nomination but the former Army man has himself expressed his desire to move out of Assam and has indicated his preference to go to a bigger State.
Sources further confirmed that Rajen Gohain and his group is opposed to Lt General Sinha being given extension, while Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakraborty has not indicated her preference one way or the other. Sources claimed that despite the opposition from the State BJP, the Governor stands a good chance of making it, if signal emanating from Home Ministry is any indication. This is being attributed to the fact that the Governor himself enjoys a close rapport with most of the BJP?s central leaders.
Lt Gen. Sinha who was sidelined by the then Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi also has a good equation with former Prime Minister, V P Singh who was instrumental in appointing him to Nepal as India?s Ambassador. He took over as Governor of Assam on September 1, 1997. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi when contacted last week said that the Centre has so far not sought his Government?s views on the appointment of the next Governor. ?It is always desirable to have an apolitical person as the Governor?, he opined.