Home Ministry sources said that this week, the Centre turned down Ramanujam's request for extension of leave for another three months. Observers see a larger political gameplan in the move: it is no coincidence that Ramanujam's exit will coincide with the shifting of Gujarat Governor Anshuman Singh to Rajasthan.

Besides the Anjana Mishra rape case which has seen Congress president Sonia Gandhi tighten the screws on Chief Minister J B Patnaik, other factors are forcing New Delhi to have an ``active Governor'' in the state. That includes pressure from its own allies itching to take on Patnaik. It was in this connection that BijuJanata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik met Home Minister L K Advani early this week and is believed to have conveyed the urgency to replace Ramanujam.

In fact, the issue was discussed at length during Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's meeting with President K R Narayanan a few days ago. On a cue from the Home Ministry, Vajpayee suggested to the President that the Government would bear Ramanujam's medical expenses even after he resigned from the post.

The Home Ministry has taken due note of Ramanujam's ailment which required lengthy treatment -- as well as the fact that he is a respected freedom fighter who should not be denied one.

In West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh, the Government has initiated steps to appoint new Governors. In West Bengal, however, it has been frustrated by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee who wants to be consulted for the appointment. Much to the chagrin of senior BJP leaders, she has twice said no to the proposal to send Biren Shah (a Gujarat based industrialistand former Rajya Sabha MP) to Bengal.

Thanks to the goings-on in Arunachal Assembly, Governor Mata Prasad seems to have got a reprieve. Chief Minister Gegong Apang is supposed to prove his majority in the House on January 18, and therefore till then Prasad -- whose tenure, like that of West Bengal Governor A R Kidwai, has already expired -- cannot be replaced.