DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya resigned on Wednesday, two years before completing her five-year term and amid speculation that she may be given a role in UP BJP ahead of polls next year.
Maurya tendered her resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind citing personal reasons, her office has confirmed. It came just days after she met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on September 5.
The timing of the resignation has fuelled speculations that Maurya may be given a role in the BJP's UP state unit before impending assembly polls in 2022. While those close to her remained tight-lipped over her next move, there were also talks of the 64-year-old contesting elections in UP.
Maurya had earlier served as the mayor of Agra from 1995 to 2000 and had also unsuccessfully contested UP assembly polls in 2007 on a BJP ticket from the Etmadpur seat. She was a member of the National Women’s Commission in 2002.
Constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap said there is no "cooling off" period required for governors if they choose to contest elections. “They can join electoral politics soon after demitting office,” he said.
Maurya was appointed governor of the Himalayan state in August 2018 at the end of Krishna Kant Paul’s tenure. She was the second woman to hold the position after Margaret Alva, who was governor of Uttarakhand from August 2009 to May 2012.
A top government source said the new governor would be named by the president soon.
