President Droupadi Murmu Accepts Bhagat Singh Koshyari's Resignation, Ramesh Bais Named New Maharashtra Governor

Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais has been appointed as the new Maharashtra Governor after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Bhagat Singh Koshyari's resignation.

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has accepted Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's resignation, President's Secretariat said on Sunday (February 12, 2023). An official statement said that Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais has been appointed as the new Maharashtra Governor.

Koshyari had been in the line of Opposition fire over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whom he described as the "icon of olden times". 

Earlier last month, he had expressed his desire before Prime Minister Narendra Modi to quit the post and said he would like to spend the remainder of his life in reading, writing, and other activities.

"During the recent visit of the Hon'ble Prime Minister to Mumbai, I have conveyed to him my desire to be discharged of all political responsibilities and to spend the remainder of my life in reading, writing, and other activities," a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

"I have always received the love and affection from the Hon'ble Prime Minister and I hope to receive the same in this regard," the statement read.

The PM is also scheduled to inaugurate the campus of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, an Arabic academy and a premier educational institution of the Dawoodi Bohra community at Marol, Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/skML9eWZqY — Governor of Maharashtra (@maha_governor) February 10, 2023

"It was an absolute honour and privilege for me to serve as the Rajya Sevak or Rajyapal of a great State like Maharashtra, the land of Saints, Social reformers and valiant fighters," Koshyari added.

Bhagat Singh Koshyari took charge as Maharashtra governor in 2019

The 81-year-old took charge as the Maharashtra governor in September 2019.

When the Uddhav Thakeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power, he had several run-ins with the government on a range of issues including the appointment of 12 members to the state legislative council from the gubernatorial quota, which he never approved. The MVA had accused him of acting in a partisan manner.

The latest controversy surrounding Koshyari was about his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj whom he described as the "icon of olden times".

His remarks had triggered protests from the Opposition parties demanding that he be sacked.

Who is Ramesh Bais, Maharashtra's new Governor?

Ramesh Bais, Maharashtra's new Governor, was previously serving as the Governor of Jharkhand. Born on August 2, 1947, in Raipur, Bais was serving as the 10th Governor of Jharkhand since July 2021.

माननीय राज्यपाल श्री रमेश बैस ने 74वें गणतंत्र दिवस के अवसर पर आज मोरहाबादी मैदान, राँची में आयोजित समारोह में झंडोत्तोलन किया एवं राज्यवासियों को संबोधित किया। pic.twitter.com/qNVo5rjIHs — Governor of Jharkhand (@jhar_governor) January 26, 2023

माननीय राज्यपाल-सह-झारखण्ड राज्य के विश्वविद्यालयों के कुलाधिपति श्री रमेश बैस ने आज बिरसा कृषि विश्वविद्यालय, राँची द्वारा आयोजित सप्तम दीक्षांत समारोह को संबोधित किया तथा उत्तीर्ण विद्यार्थियों व शोधार्थियों को उपाधि प्रदान की। pic.twitter.com/sOTxwZQkbY — Governor of Jharkhand (@jhar_governor) February 2, 2023

Prior to that, he served as the Governor of Tripura.