The demand for Governor's intervention by the Telugu Desam Party became vociferous after the party legislator, A. Revanth Reddy, was apprehended by the Anti Corruption Bureau of Telangana in a cash-for-vote scam.
The airing of an audio tape by a TV channel purportedly showing the conversation between the AP Chief Minister and the Telangana nominated legislator, Elvis Stephenson, further precipitated the matter. Interestingly, the Governor had also visited New Delhi and reported to the Centre about the happenings in both the States. Sources in Raj Bhavan, however, maintained that they “have not received any communication from the Attorney General’s office”.
It is understood that the Governor had written a letter to the Centre last July soon after bifurcation seeking clarity on his role in implementation of Section 8.
“There is no reply yet from the Centre on the issue,” sources remarked. Sources also pointed out that when the Centre has appointed two advisors to the Governor to oversee implementation of Section 8, where was the need for the first citizen of the two States to directly contact the Attorney General. When contacted, sources in the Telangana Chief Minister’s office made light of any such opinion given by the Attorney General.
“It is all speculation and the TS government does not believe it,” sources said. As per Section 8 of the Act, the responsibility of the Governor shall extend to matters such as law and order and internal security in the common capital area. The section also specifies that in “discharge of the functions, the Governor shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers of Telangana, exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken.
The Governor had written a letter to the Centre last July, seeking clarity on his role in implementation
of Section 8.
