Unexpected Twist: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan returned to Hyd

In an unexpected twist, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan returned to Hyderabad on Wednesday morning, having travelled to Delhi on Tuesday evening on what was to be a two-day visit.

According to his schedule, the Governor was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday. Significantly, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his disapproval over the Governor’s style of functioning on Tuesday, and the speculation doing the rounds is that the Prime Minister and home minister cancelled their appointments with the Governor in the wake of Naidu’s remarks.

In Delhi on Tuesday night, Narasimhan apparently left Andhra Pradesh Bhavan without his regular vehicle and security, and came back after two hours. It is not clear whether he went to visit his son, who lives in Delhi, or met the Prime Minister secretly and submitted his reports.

Before leaving for Delhi, Narasimhan held separate discussions with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Naidu. Sources said the Governor prepared reports on the political situation in both the Telugu states, including Rao’s proposal to float a Federal Front, Naidu’s unwillingness to patch up with the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, and other issues. As the Governor left for Delhi, Naidu alleged that Narasimhan was playing a key role in uniting all Opposition parties against the Telugu Desam, while former Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao also made a few observations on the Governor’s meeting with Naidu. Given this background, the Governor’s premature return to Hyderabad has become a talking point in the state’s political circles.

Minister Nakka Ananda Babu said Narasimhan has become “a negotiator in the conspiracy of Modi and Amit Shah against AP”.

He alleged that Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan held a meeting to criticise Naidu and his son N. Lokesh after visiting the Governor, and questioned the Governor’s “interference” in state politics. He added that the government is opposing the Governor because “he has shown his true colours”.