The exit of V. Shanmuganathan as Governor of Meghalaya under dubious circumstances has come as a huge embarrassment and shock to his friends and colleagues in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Tamil Nadu. The man who went to occupy the seat with a “message for the people of Meghalaya” in May 2015 has left under a cloud following allegations of sexual harassment. (Officially he resigned citing “health reason”).

“It is an unfortunate incident. It reiterates that a person occupying a higher position should be doubly careful to avoid such allegations as he represents an organisation such as the RSS and the BJP,’ said N. Sadagopan, State RSS media co-ordinator.

Mr. Shanmuganathan was state secretary of the RSS between 1985 and 1995 and it was during his tenure the RSS office was razed in a bomb blast in 1993. He ensured that the organisation had a new building in just a year. Born in Nagore in Nagapattinam district, he was known for his organising skill and oratory talent both in Tamil and English.

After schooling in Thanjavur, he studied in Raja Serfoji Government College and the National College in Tiruchi. A postgraduate in political science, he was well-versed in Bhakti literature.

He became a full-time worker of the RSS in 1969 and in the beginning worked in Aranthangi as a ‘pracharak’.

After 1955, he became the Boudhik Pramukh of the RSS in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. In 1999, he was sent to BJP and functioned as additional secretary of the BJP Parliament Office till his appointment as the Governor.

“I have known him for many years and I am not able to believe the allegations that are very sweeping in nature. He might have been targeted for various reasons. But as the saying goes, Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion. Fortunately, he has resigned without giving room for problem,” said V. Umaiyorubhagan, former Principal of the Noorul Islam College of Arts and Science in Kanyakumari district.