Tiwari puts in resignation papers citing poor health

Hyderabad, Dec 26: Governor ND Tiwari formally submitted his resignation to President Pratibha Patil on Saturday, citing ‘health grounds’.According to a press communiqué from the press secretary to the Governor,N D Tiwari submitted his resignation to the President Pratibha Patil on health grounds.Jharkhand Governor, Shankar  Narayanan has been asked to take additional charge of Andhra Pradesh till alternative arrangement is made.Earlier Shankar Narayanan was with Central Intelligence as chief.

According to official sources, the 86-year-old Mr Tiwari faxed his resignation to the President at 3:30 pm on Saturday.The Governor was under intense pressure from Women’s groups and political parties over his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, which was aired on ABN Andhra television channel on Friday before being stopped by a division bench of the High Court.The Congress welcomed the resignation saying Mr.Tiwari has taken the appropriate decision.Mr Tiwari’s exit seemed imminent after the Centre sought a report on the sex tape earlier in the day. The Chief Secretary Ramakant Reddy promptly submitted  his report in the afternoon without any delay.

According to sources,United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi had taken a serious view of the issue and held  discussions on this  episode with senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and AK Antony.It was a blessing in disguise for the Congress High Command as the High Command  is on the  lookout for an able  administrator who can control  the  present Telangana crisis in the state.The Andhra Jyothi owned ABN channel on Friday aired explicit clippings purported to be of Mr Tiwari involved sexual activities with three women. The channel also claimed that the pictures were snapped in the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the state Governor.