Amaravat: Andhra Pradesh government on Monday night bid a warm farewell to outgoing Governor E S L Narasimhan and his wife Vimala Narasimhan.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, his cabinet colleagues and All India Services officers attended the farewell function in Vijayawada where they felicitated the first citizen and the first lady.

ESL Narasimhan, who took charge as Governor of (then) united Andhra Pradesh on December 27, 2009, continued to be the state's constitutional head even after the bifurcation. He will now continue as Governor of Telangana.

Biswa Bhushan Harichandan, appointed as Narasimhan's successor, will be sworn-in as AP Governor here on July 24.

Also Read: ESL Narasimhan Congratulates New AP Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan

Turning nostalgic on the occasion, ESL Narasimhan a former Indian Police Service officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre recalled his 'aksharaabhyasam' (initiation to learning) in Vijayawada way back in 1951. "At that time, our family stayed in an area called Governorpet. Little did I dream then that I will become Governor," he said.

As an IPS officer, he underwent training in Anantapur district and served his first posting in Nandyal. "I later served as Superintendent of Police of Prakasam district. I have been Governor of the state for nine and a half years. Its a great and strange connection for me with Andhra Pradesh," Narasimhan noted.

Thanking the people of AP for "all the love and affection" they had showered on him, Narasimhan sought their pardon for having "knowingly or unknowingly" committed several mistakes as Governor. "Sometimes I committed the mistakes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. On this occasion, I seek your pardon for that," the outgoing Governor said.

Narasimhan heaped praise on Chief Minister YS Jagan, saying the latter was development oriented, who is going to provide a corruption-free administration". "You have inherited a very new empire. You have a long way to go. I am sure you will create history in the annals of AP," he added. YS Jagan also recalled that he had a 10-year acquaintance with Narasimhan.

"He has played a fathers role for me and been a guiding spirit. I thought he will continue to hold my hand and lead me forward for the next five years but he is going away," the Chief Minister said. The state would remember Narasimhan forever,YS Jagan said, adding his blessings would always be there for the state. PTI

Check out the Farewell Pictures

Also Read: New AP Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan Swearing-In Ceremony on July 24