Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who has courted several controversies, on Monday announced his desire to be “discharged of all political responsibilities”.

Koshyari, 80, said he wanted to pursue “reading, writing and other activities”. “During the recent visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to Mumbai, I conveyed to him my desire to be discharged of all political responsibilities and to spend the remainder of my life in reading, writing and other activities,” a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

“I have always received the love and affection from the Hon’ble Prime Minister and I hope to receive the same in this regard,” it added. Narendra Modi was in Mumbai last week. Koshyari, a prominent BJP leader from Uttarakhand sidelined post-2014, was unhappy over his posting as Maharashtra governor. Koshyari had conducted the early morning oath-taking ceremony to swear in Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. The government lasted 80 hours.