Narasimhan takes over as Andhra Governor

Hyderabad, December 28: Chhattisgarh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Monday took additional charge as the governor of Andhra Pradesh following the resignation of N.D. Tiwari.

Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court A.R. Dave administered the oath of office to Mr. Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, his cabinet colleagues, leaders of various parties, Chief Secretary Ramakanth Reddy and other top officials attended the simple ceremony.

Mr. Narasimhan was given additional charge following Tiwari’s resignation in the wake of an alleged sex scandal. Mr. Tiwari resigned on Saturday citing health grounds.

Mr. Narasimhan, former director of the Intelligence Bureau, takes charge as the 22nd governor of the state at a time when Andhra Pradesh is embroiled in a violent agitation over separate statehood to the Telangana region.

The central government felt that as a former IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, his services would be useful in dealing with the agitation.

Mr. Narasimhan, 63, retired from the IB in 2006. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, he is a graduate in physics from Madras University. He did his post-graduation in political science and also did law from the same university.

An alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi, Mr. Narasimhan joined the IPS in 1968 and was allotted the Andhra Pradesh cadre. Though he spent very little time in the state, he knows Telugu and is well versed with the state of affairs.

He also served as the first secretary in the Indian embassy in Moscow from 1981 to 1984.

–IANS