Hours after being appointed as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, senior Bharatiya Janata party leader Ram Naik on Monday stressed that his mandate was not to de-stabilize the Samajwadi Party government but to act as a “bridge” between the Centre and the State.
“The people’s mandate has supported us so we don’t need to indulge in such acts. We never believed in creating unmaad (frenzy),” Mr. Naik told reporters here. A five-time MP from North Mumbai, Mr. Naik (80) was appointed as Governor of U.P. after B.L. Joshi, perceived to be a close confidante of the Gandhi family, was asked to tender his resignation following the change of guard at the Centre.
“Since governors are political appointments, there has been a tradition that they resign as the government changes. It is unfortunate that the Congress didn’t do this,” said Mr. Naik.
Mr. Naik added that he would work to bring ache din (good days) to U.P. Mr. Naik has strong roots in the RSS and held “shakha” portfolios during his college days. He is a member of the BJP national executive committee and also the national convener of the ‘Good Governance Cell,’ specially constituted to enhance efficiency and performance of Ministers in BJP-lead States.
