Solanki meets Rajnath, calls it ‘routine’

Ravi S Singh

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 22

Haryana and Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki today met Home Minister Rajnath Singh amidst speculation that he may be replaced by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. The one-to-one meeting lasted about 45 minutes. 

But the Governor described it as a "routine and private" meeting.  He said, “A lot many issues related to the Governor’s office are in the domain of the Union Home Ministry. Therefore, there is nothing special in my meeting the Home Minister.”

In the past few days, there has been talk of a possible change of guard at the Chandigarh Raj Bhawan. With former IPS officer Kiran Bedi today appointed Lt Governor of Puducherry, the buzz is that a reshuffle of Governors is imminent.

 As the results of the recent municipal elections in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been much below BJP's expectations, reports say the party top brass is in favour of a change of guard in Gujarat. However, well-placed  source said as of now, Solanki would remain put. "With Assembly elections in Punjab due early next year, the government would not want to attract Opposition criticism for bringing in a new Governor at this juncture, " they maintained.