Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said the country’s political system has no place for governors and the post should be dropped altogether. Kumar was speaking at the Inter-State Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he said the “existing federal democratic structure does not warrant continuance of the gubernatorial post.” He added that if it was not possible to do away with it, appointments to the post should be made more transparent.

Kumar said the state’s chief minister should have a greater say in the appointment and removal of a governor, and that a floor test by the Speaker of the House should be made mandatory in case a chief minister is to be removed. Kumar was supported by other chief ministers of non-Bharatiya Janata Party states. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Council should pass a resolution to disallow President’s Rule unless a floor test proves the government has lost majority.

The concern over the role of the governor and the Centre’s interference in state politics comes days after the Supreme Court effectively revoked President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The Congress government in the state had earlier been shunted out after dissident leaders, led by governor P Rajkhowa had tried to impeach Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.