Sikkim Raj Bhavan on Saturday published a coffee table book on governor Ganga Prasad’s work in the state as well as in Meghalaya where he had held the post previously.

Titled “Memoirs of the onset years of the Hon’ble Governor of Sikkim Ganga Prasad”, the book was released in the presence of Sikkim chief minister P.S. Tamang (Golay) and some of his close aides at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok on Saturday.

A release issued by the governor’s office said: “The coffee table book highlights the contribution of the Hon’ble Governor and features pictorial illustrations of his various engagements within and outside the State. The book also includes social and political ascension and short stint as Governor in Meghalaya.”

The two biggest contributions of Prasad as governor were controversial. First was the formation of the National People’s Party (NPP)-led alliance government in Meghalaya in March 2018 despite the Congress emerging as the single largest party. The BJP is an ally of the NPP led by chief minister Conrad Sangma.

Second was the appointment of Tamang as chief minister in May 2019 despite he not being eligible to contest any election at that time.

The accusation against Prasad on both the occasions was that he was doing the bidding of the BJP.

Golay contested and won from one of the three seats where bypolls were held in dramatic circumstances in 2019.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had paved the way for him to contest the election a day after the SKM had stitched an alliance with the BJP and a day before the last date of filing of nominations for the bypolls.

Golay had been disqualified to contest elections after serving a year’s term in a corruption case. A provision in the Representation of Peoples (RP) Act, 1951, bars a person convicted of corruption from contesting any election for six years from the date of his release. The ECI had reduced the disqualification period for Golay by virtue of the power vested on it by Section 11 of Representation of People’s Act, 1951.