President accepts Meghalaya Governor Shanmuganathan's resignation

Shillong: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday accepted V. Shanmuganathan's resignation as the Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, giving Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit additional charge of Meghalaya.

Earlier on Wednesday, in a five-page letter sent to the Prime Minister, nearly 100 employees of the Raj Bhavan accused the Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan of compromising the dignity of the house and turning it into the 'young ladies club'.

The letter, as claimed by leading daily 'Hindustan Times', said that Shanmuganathan was rude, arrogant, temperamental and untruthful.

"... we are not interested in his personal life. But when his activities hurt the decorum and prestige of the Raj Bhavan as well as the sentiments of the Raj Bhavan employees, who are very much attached to the Raj Bhavan, it becomes our concern," the letter added.

The Raj Bhavan staff has sought the removal of the Governor in the letter penned to PM Narendra Modi.

Civil Society Women's Organisation also staged protest in front of the Raj Bhavan on 68th Republic Day demanding removal of Shanmuganathan, who is currently in Itanagar as he also holds the additional charge of Arunachal Pradesh.

The letter was penned after leading English daily quoted a woman who accused the Governor of making advances by "hugging and kissing her".

The woman was one of the seven candidates selected for an interview for the post of a Public Relation Officer at the Raj Bhavan.

It may be mentioned that Shanmuganathan, who sworn in as Meghalaya Governor on May 20, 2015, is also a veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist.