ESL could have sworn-in ministers, but Delhi intervened: Sources

HYDERABAD: When new Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan swore in six cabinet ministers on Sunday — five hours after her own oath-taking ceremony — top sources said that the script could well have been different had it not been for the intervention of Bharatiya Janata Party top brass.
There was a distinct possibility of outgoing governor ESL Narasimhan, who holds the record of being the first governor of the country to administer oath of office to five governments, conducting the swearing-in of KCR’s new ministers, as he was likely to remain in office till September 10.
“But Soundararajan indicated that she would like to take charge on September 8. However, there was a discussion with the outgoing governor over the dates. So, an agreement was being reached as per which September 11 would have been the date of the new governor’s oath-taking ceremony,” said a top source in Raj Bhavan.
But the message from top bosses in New Delhi was to stick with the previously agreed date of September 8. So, Soundararajan approached officials in the state government about it, senior BJP sources confirmed.
Under Article 155 of the Constitution, the President appoints governors of state, attorney general of India, comptroller and auditor general of India, and judges of Supreme Court. For the date of the oath, the new governor has the final say.
Finally, Soundararajan gave oath to the new ministers amid speculation in political circles that it could be a tough time ahead for the TRS regime, considering the new governor was the BJP state president in Tamil Nadu and is a direct choice of none other than BJP top brass, mainly home minister Amit Shah.
But going by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s political acumen, he might extend a friendly hand to her. Former governor Narasimhan and his family shared a very good rapport with KCR.