Shri K. Sankaranarayanan (22.01.2010 – 26.08.2014)

Shri Kateekal Sankaranarayanan took oath as the Governor of Maharashtra for the second time on 7th May 2012 after the President of India granted him a fresh term as Governor of the State. He has been serving as Governor of Maharashtra from 22nd January 2010. Prior to that he served as Governor of Jharkhand and Nagaland for a total period of three years.

Sankaranarayanan brings with him a vast and varied experience in public life. A venerable personality, Shri Sankaranarayana has dominated the political firmament of Kerala for nearly five decades.

Born on 15th October 1932 in Kerala, Shri Sankaranarayanan’s initiation into politics started early when in 1946 he became a member of Students’ Organization. Thereafter from 1957 to 1964 and from 1964 to 1968 he was respectively the General Secretary and President of the District Congress Committee, Palghat. Between 1968 and 1972, he served as General Secretary of the Undivided Congress. In 1972, he was appointed as President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, the post he held till 1977. Shri Sankaranarayanan also served as the Working Committee Member of the AICC and the All India Parliamentary Board Member of the Organization Congress.

Sankaranarayanan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly several times as a candidate of the Indian National Congress (INC). He was first elected to the 5th Kerala Legislative Assembly (KLA) from Thrithala, thereafter to the 6th KLA from Sreekrishnapuram, to the 8th KLA from Ottappalam and to the 11th KLA from Palghat Constituency.

In 1977, Shri K. Sankaranarayanan became a Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development and Community Development in the Ministry headed by Shri K Karunakaran and later in the Ministry of Shri A. K. Antony. He became the Cabinet Minister for Finance & Excise in the Ministry headed by Shri A. K. Antony during 2001 – 2004.

Shri Sankaranarayanan was Chairman of the Committee on Government Assurances from 1980 to 1982, and from 1989 to 1991 served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts. From 1985 to 2001, for 16 (sixteen) years, he was the Convener of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.

Shri K. Sankaranarayanan was appointed as the Governor of Nagaland on 3rd February 2007 and held the post till 25th July 2009. He guided the destiny of the State during the brief spell of President’s Rule in early 2008 and later oversaw the smooth conducting of the General Elections and elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. He also held the additional charge of the post of Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Governor of Assam for brief periods.

On 26th July 2009, he was appointed as Governor of the State of Jharkhand that was under President’s Rule. Here again, he oversaw the free and fair conduct of elections to the Legislative Assembly leading to the appointment of a popular government in the State.

Between 8th September 2011 and 3 May 2012, Sankaranarayanan held additional charge of the post of Governor of Goa. During this period, he oversaw the smooth conduct of elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly leading to the establishment of a popular government.

Since coming to Maharashtra, the Governor has taken a number of decisions in as diverse areas as development, higher education, environment conservation and citizens welfare. As Chancellor of Universities in the State, the Governor appointed Vice Chancellors to 16 universities in the State.

Using his powers under Article 371(2) of the Constitution, the Governor has constituted a committee of experts to ascertain levels of development of the backward regions based on a fresh set of indicators.

In a farsighted move towards environment protection, the Governor created a biodiversity park on the huge expanse of the Raj Bhavan in Nagpur. The biodiversity park showcasing the rich plant diversity of the Gondwana region of Central India is going to be opened for public viewing shortly.

The Governor has also created an Archives Cell in Raj Bhavan where important correspondence of historical significance of all the past Governors will be preserved, digitised and made available to researchers, students and persons interested in history.

A man of the masses, Shri Sankaranarayanan is keenly interested in welfare and developmental issues.

Shri Sankaranarayanan demitted office on 26 August 2014.