India: Meghalaya governor quits after sexual harassment charges

Governor of India's north-eastern state Meghalaya, V Shanmuganathan, resigned on Thursday after Raj Bhavan (official residence of state governor) employees demanded that he step down following allegations of sexual harassment on the 67-year-old.

President Pranab Mukherjee accepted his resignation as Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh today. He has appointed P.B Acharya, Governor of Nagaland, to discharge functions of Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

The employees had alleged that Shanmuganathan had "seriously compromised the dignity of the Raj Bhavan and made it a 'young ladies club'", reported Press trust of India.

About 100 staff members of the Raj Bhavan had written to President Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking the governor's removal.

"It has become a place where young ladies come and go at will on direct orders of the Governor... Many of them have direct access to his bedroom."

Shanmuganathan became Meghalaya's governor in May 2015. He also held additional charge of Andhra Pradesh since November last year following the removal of Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.

A campaign headed by women-led Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) and Thma u Rangli (TUR) had also called for the governor's removal.

The official was also accused of making sexual advances against a women who had come for a job interview at the Raj Bhavan.

(With inputs from PTI)