India, Aug. 6 -- It has been precedential that ruling political parties, at the Centre, appoint their party leaders as Governors and Lieutenant Governors. It is either to placate an ageing leader, sideline him or her, or relate it to the political realities at the ground levels in the state or Union Territory (UT) to which the nominee belongs.

Unfortunately, merit, in the form of stature and expertise in matters related to administration and Constitutional nitty-gritty, has been a serious casualty. Using Raj Bhawan as the centre of political machinations by the ruling parties, either to upset the opposition ruled states/UTs or further their political interests, has been the favourite pastime of successive political parties ruling in the ...