Recent Gubernatorial Appointments: Analysing The BJP's Political Calculus

The year 2023 is crucial as it is going to set the tone for the general elections next year.

There is little to no doubt that the BJP, keeping up its image of an election machine, is in no mood to leave anything to chance.

The recent gubernatorial appointments are indicative of BJP's efforts to consolidate its position across various states.

Here are a few that we find particularly interesting from a political perspective:

Kataria's Appointment: Implications For Rajasthan BJP

The appointment of Gulab Chand Kataria as the Governor of Assam is a notable example of the BJP's political strategy at play.

Kataria, a nine-term MLA and currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, was considered a potential chief ministerial candidate for the party in the state elections due this year.

By assigning him a new role as Governor, the BJP may be allowing room for younger leadership to emerge and take the reins of the party. But are we then looking at more such adjustments to be made in the state’s old guard?

Additionally, the BJP may have sought to clear the path for former chief minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, to be seen as the party's top choice by moving Kataria to a new position. The party is hoping to avert infighting harming its prospects in the state in the upcoming state elections.

The repercussions of this move, in its entirety, however, would be felt in the coming days as Kataria’s stronghold, Mewar region, becomes up for grabs.

CPR As Governor: BJP's Commitment To Long-Serving Members

The appointment of C P Radhakrishnan, a two-term Coimbatore MP and senior BJP leader, as the Governor of Jharkhand, is a noteworthy political development.

CPR is the third senior leader from Tamil Nadu to be given a governor posting by the saffron party, following Tamilisai Sounderarajan and L Ganesan.

Despite the state remaining electorally unrewarding for the BJP, several party veterans have been appointed as governors, demonstrating the party's commitment to recognising the contributions of its long-serving members.

CPR has been with the party since the days of Jan Sangh and has played a crucial role in building the party in Tamil Nadu.

His extensive experience will prove to be valuable in navigating the current political turmoil in Jharkhand.

He will have the task of passing an order based on the Election Commission's recommendation on office-of-profit charges against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

CPR fought and lost 2014 and 2019 elections from the Kovai constituency. According to some political observers, his elevation to the post of governor may pave the way for state BJP president K Annamalai to contest the Kovai Lok Sabha seat in 2024.

Shiv Pratap Shukla's Appointment: Securing CM Adityanath's Position

Another old timer who has been rewarded in the current list of gubernatorial appointments in Shiv Pratap Shukla, former MoS (finance) in the first Narendra Modi government.

He has been appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh. Shukla hails from Gorakhpur, the constituency of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Shukla is known to be CM’s rival in the state, and the rivalry goes back 20 years.

However, despite the friction, Shukla had served the party, especially using his goodwill among the Brahmins to keep them within the party fold. In 2021, before the assembly election, he was tasked with ensuring support from the Brahmin community for the CM Adityanath-led government.

He had proposed to announce Parshuram Jayanti and build statues of Bhagwan Parshuram to placate the community.

His appointment as Himachal Pradesh Governor, also further secures the position of Chief Minister Adityanath within the state, especially before the next elections.

Resignation Of B S Koshyari As Governor Of Maharashtra

The current Governor of Jharkhand, Ramesh Bais, has been moved to Maharashtra taking over from B S Koshayri as the Governor. A communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan released on Sunday stated that President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Governor Koshyari.

Koshyari faced criticism from the opposition over his remarks regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji, calling him an “icon of old times”.

There were voices for his removal, even within the BJP. BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had criticised the Maharashtra Governor for his objectionable remarks.

In January, Koshyari, 80, expressed his desire to resign to Prime Minister Modi and that he would like to spend the remainder of his life reading, writing and in other activities.

Koshyari assumed the position of governor during a politically tumultuous time in September 2019. He administered the oath of office to Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister and Ajit Pawar from the NCP as deputy chief minister, but their brief rule only lasted three days.

During the Maha Vikas Agadhi government, he had several run-ins with the Udhav Thackeray led dispensation. However, his recent statements have been felt out of line, making his position untenable.

The recent gubernatorial appointments, therefore, make up for an interesting read for the political implications they might have as the government makes every move with strategic precision in an electorally charged year.

(With inputs from PTI)