Bihar Governor M Rama Jois on Thursday resigned after an eventful 16-month term often marked by frequent stand-offs between him and the Rabri Devi ministry.
Jois faxed his resignation letter to the President with the request that it be accepted with effect from November 1 this year, Raj Bhavan sources said.
He becomes the second National Democratic Alliance-appointed governor to make exit in less than a week. The first was senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Madan Lal Khurana who quit as Rajasthan governor to return to active politics.
Bihar's ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal had stepped up its demand for the removal of Jois, who took over on June 12, 2003, ever since the United Progressive Alliance government came to power at the Centre. The RJD is part of the UPA.
The Rabri Devi ministry has been at loggerheads with Raj Bhavan on several issues, including appointment of vice-chancellors to state universities, chairman of the state university (constituent colleges) service commission and recruitment of lecturers into which a vigilance probe was ordered.
Prior to taking over charge of Bihar, Jois was governor of Jharkhand. He was earlier chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Jois was in the eye of a storm way back in January this year after he made adverse remarks on the law and order scenario in Bihar and flayed the state government for its alleged inept handling of the situation.
RJD president Lalu Prasad had taken strong exception to the governor's remarks, dubbed Jois as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh man and demanded his immediate removal.
