Lost to Govinda in 2004 due to underworld: Ram Naik

LUCKNOW: Former Union minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Cabinet Ram Naik, who took over as Uttar Pradesh governor recently, feels his loss to Bollywood star Govinda in the Lok Sabha polls in 2004 could have been due to the 'influence of the underworld'. In an exclusive interview to TOI a few days after taking over the gubernatorial posting, Naik also said governors should resign as soon as there is a regime change at the Centre.
"Whatever I say today about my defeat to Govinda 10 years ago would be seen as an excuse. But, I would like to mention that the underworld had ganged up to ensure my defeat. In 2014, I refused to fight, saying that I have had a long career and should make way for others," Naik, who has been five-time MP and held the petroleum and railways portfolios, told TOI.
Talking about the controversy over shifting of governors after NDA came to power, Naik said: "A governor is a political appointee and hence, once there is change in the ruling party at the Centre, they should quit immediately with dignity. This, unfortunately, is not happening. Some governors stick to their posts to get insulation from inquiries they are facing."
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Coming to Uttar Pradesh at a time when the Samajwadi Party government led by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has been facing a sea of trouble, especially on the law and order front, Naik clarified that the perception that his appointment as governor could lead to a confrontation between the Raj Bhawan and the government was 'baseless'.
"I would remain committed to my role of being a bridge between the Centre and the state," he said.