GUNTUR: Fearing incurring the wrath of the powers that be over a 'protocol violation', Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah on Friday abruptly cancelled his visit to Chilakaluripet in Guntur district where he was scheduled to unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

A local businessman, who sponsored the statue, had printed invitation cards with a full size photograph of Rosaiah along with mug shots of Gandhi and senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah below his feet, while images of local TDP leaders were given prominence.

According to sources, local BJP leaders took objection to the design of the invite. Raj Bhavan authorities reportedly noticed the "breach of protocol" in the invite forcing Rosaiah to cancel his programme at the eleventh hour.

Rosaiah had agreed to unveil the statue of the Father of the Nation after local mer chant Ghantasala Bangaru Babu invited him six months ago. However, Rosaiah reportedly developed cold feet after local BJP leader P Purnachandra Rao strongly objected to the “insult“ meted out to senior party leaders by the organizers. The invite also carried the mug shots of Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

“Since it is a private programme, the question of following protocol in the invitation cards does not arise,“ said a senior district official. He, however, said the VVIP is free to accept or reject the invitation. An official statement from the state information department later in the day said the TN governor had cancelled his programme as the "organiser printed the photos of national leaders in a derogatory manner".

Rosaiah is the lone UPA nominated governor to escape the axe after the BJP-led NDA government came to power eight months ago.

He was appointed TN governor in 2011 and his term will end next year. The local organizer, a staunch follower of Rosaiah, recently joined the TDP. Bangaru Babu had mobilized local merchants and obtained permission from the civic body to install the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the market centre.

