New Delhi: The Centre has removed PS Sreedharan Pillai from the post of Goa Governor. Former Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been appointed as his replacement, according to a communiqué from the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Pillai, who took charge in July 2021 after a stint as Mizoram Governor, has not been assigned a new post yet.

In other gubernatorial appointments, Kavinder Gupta has been named the new Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, filling the vacancy left by BD Mishra's resignation. Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh has been appointed as the new Governor of Haryana.

“I have never, even once in my life, asked for a position or electoral candidacy. I have been part of a movement for the last fifty years. That movement has given me everything it could offer. I am completely content. No one can say I ever made a demand," PS Sreedharan Pillai said while responding to Manorama Online.

"Today marks the completion of four years as the Governor of Goa. Before that, I served two years as the Governor of Mizoram. Prior to these roles, I was known in Kerala more as a lawyer and a writer than as a politician. I have published 117 books. In 2010, when the Congress was in power at the Centre, the President of India released one of my books. But no one in Kerala’s social life took note of that. People always saw me only as a politician.

"After becoming Governor, I was able to make good progress in the field of writing. Most recently, two of my books written against the Emergency sold out within a week. I received ₹1.3 lakh as royalty, which I donated to a food donation scheme in Goa. There’s no legal barrier to returning to the legal profession. As per protocol, a Governor ranks above the Chief Justice. The Governor is fourth in rank, while the Chief Justice is sixth. Because of that ego factor, most Governors who are lawyers usually don’t return to court after demitting office. But I don't feel that way. I’m someone who deeply loves the legal profession. I’m even willing to appear in lower courts.

"But that doesn’t mean I’ve decided to return to court just yet. That’s something that needs to be thought through. I can’t say I’ll focus on just one area in future,” said Sreedharan Pillai.