The name of E.S.L. Narasimhan, Governor of the two Telugu states, is doing the rounds in Delhi as a candidate for Vice-President, replacing the present incumbent Hamid Ansari who will complete his second five-year term in August this year.
Narasimhan’s close association with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has also reportedly prompted the BJP to favour his candidature. Narasimhan was chief of the Intelligence Bureau before he was appointed Governor for Chhattisgarh in 2007 by the UPA government. He is the only UPA appointed Governor who has survived under NDA rule. Narasimhan’s second term as Governor ends on May 3 this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to clear appointments for vacant gubernatorial posts before he leaves on May 12 on a visit to Sri Lanka. He will also take up the much-awaited Cabinet reshuffle in the first week of May.
At present, there are four vacancies for governor’s posts for Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
There will soon also be a vacancy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan demits office on May 2 after completing a five-year term for the second time.
However, he will continue for a few more days till his successor takes office as per constitutional provisions under Article 156 (3).
Sources said the PM is keen to use the services of Narasimhan for a big assignment other than that of the Governor.
Narasimhan was appointed Governor for Andhra Pradesh and after the state bifurcation in 2014, was given additional charge as Telangana Governor.
