Governor ESL Narasimhan meets Rajnath Singh to discuss Section 8 and cash-for-vote scam

Hyderabad: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan rushed to New Delhi on Thursday following a summons from the Union home ministry. He will meet Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday morning to apprise him of the volatile political situation in Telangana and the Andhra Pradesh following the Rs 5-crore cash-for-vote case.

The Centre is concerned about the developments since the Telugu Desam is an ally of the ruling NDA government and any fallout will have an impact. “The Governor will brief the Union home minister on the current situation in both the states, the ACB’s likely notice to Mr Naidu, the probe in the cash-for-vote scam, forensic reports, the TD’s demand for full implementation of Section 8, AP government’s unlawful bringing of police forces which were subsequently withdrawn, etc.,” a top source said.

Incidentally, TRS deputy floor leader and MP B. Vinod Kumar was in the same flight with the Governor.

The alleged advice of Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, asking the Governor to intervene in the issue, which was later denied by Union law minister Sadananda Gowda, AP government’s counter-notices to Telangana etc., will figure during the meeting with Mr Singh.

It was being rumoured that the Governor, who takes care of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state, had rushed to New Delhi to submit his resignation in protest against TD’s verbal attack on him. It was also being said that Ms Najma Heptullah might be appointed in his place. Raj Bhavan sources, however, denied the rumours.

TRS and other political parties including the MIM, BJP, Congress and the Left parties have strongly opposed Governor’s control of law and order in Hyderabad.

TRS leaders also said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would sit in a fast in New Delhi if the Centre asked the Governor to take control of Hyderabad against the spirit of the Constitution.