Banwarilal Purohit to be sworn in as Governor tomorrow (Friday)

Former Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who has been appointed a few days back by the President as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, is likely to be sworn-in as the State’s Governor tomorrow by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras.

It may be recalled that Dr. Rosaiah’s 5-year term as the Governor ended in August last year, a few weeks before the ill-fated admission of the then chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai from where she never returned alive.  Maharashtra Governor Vidyasgar Rao was appointed as interim Governor of Tamil Nadu as well and the arrangement has continued for more than a year.

Purohit, who had been a prominent BJP leader prior to his appointment in the gubernatorial post, had served as a Member of Parliament on 3 terms.  After working in the North-East, he now comes to take charge as Governor of Tamil Nadu at a time when the State’s political scenario continues to be volatile for the past 11 months and ever since last December’s demise of ‘Puratchithalaivi’ J. Jayalalithaa.

Rao’s functioning came under criticism from many quarters and opposition parties in the State had requested the Centre many times to appoint a full-time and regular Governor for the State.  Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras Indira Banerjee would be swearing in Banwarilal Purohit as the next Governor of the State at a grand swearing-in ceremony to take place at Raj Bhawan on Friday.