ELECTIONS

NDA to move SC against Jharkhand governor

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
March 02, 2005

The National Democratic Alliance has decided to move the Supreme Court against Jharkhand governor Syed Sibte Razi's action to install Shibu Soren as the chief minister.

The governor's action was totally unconstitutional and the BJP was planning to take legal recourse, senior BJP leader M A Naqvi told rediff.com.

"Today [Wednesday] morning five Independent MLAs [members of Legislative Assembly] had expressed their support to the NDA in writing to the governor and were physically present there [before the governor at the Raj Bhavan]. After this there was no scope whatsoever for the installation of any government other than the one led by Arjun Munda," he said.

However, the governor's attempt to install Shibu Soren as CM is totally against the spirit of the Constitution and a gross misuse of power, Naqvi said.

He alleged that the governor is playing into the hands of some of the central ministers camping in Jharkhand.

"The governor's decision to make Soren the chief minister clearly indicates the Central government's collusion in the whole affair," Naqvi said.

A delegation of the BJP and the JD [U] leaders will meet President Kalam in the evening to register their protest against the governor's action.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Sri Prakash Jaiswal denied allegations that the governor was acting on the directions of the Union government.

"He is a seasoned person and capable of taking his own decision. There is no question of giving him any directive from the Centre," he said.

He accused the NDA alliance of trying to mount pressure on the governor by resorting to pressure-building tactics. "They have been stalling the two houses of Parliament on the issue of the formation of government in Jharkhand," he said.

Onkar Singh in New Delhi
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