Girija-Governor meet raises eyebrows

Sources in the Secretariat maintained that the meeting was of a routine nature and the Governor was updated about the functioning of the government machinery. 

However, the meeting assumes significance as Girija Vaidyanathan was stripped off the additional charge of Vigilance portfolio, a day after the Income Tax department had written to the government sharing the details of the alleged cash transactions between the ministers and bureaucrats with sand mining baron Sekar Reddy. Vigilance portfolio was allocated to Niranjan Mardi.

Meanwhile, the DMK working president and the Leader of Opposition MK Stalin referring to the serious allegations against the ministers had written to the Governor seeking to appoint an independent commissioner in the rank of DGP to head the State Vigilance Commission. 

The Governor was learnt to have sought the status of the law and order situation prevailing in the state in the wake of corruption charges against ministers, Income Tax raids, rescinding of the RK Nagar by election, besides the state’s performance in the cash starved situation, since Edappadi K Palanisamy took over as the Chief Minister. Appointment of the Vice-Chancellor to Anna University too reportedly figured at the meeting. Soon after the meeting with Chief Secretary, the Governor left for his Mumbai residence. 

The news about the meeting, which took place on Thursday, lasted for over an hour and trickled out late on Friday night. 

Girija Vaidyanthan had earlier met the Governor following her appointment to the top post. The Governor was scheduled to participate in the 37th convocation of Anna University on May 19. In event of rescheduling of the function, his return to the state may get postponed.