New Delhi, October 3
The NDA today said that it would approach President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for the removal of Bihar Governor Buta Singh for allegedly playing a “political role” in the state.
NDA leaders after submitting a memorandum to the Election Commission told reporters that they had already “sought time” from the President and would apprise him about Governor’s actions in the state.
“The Governor is not confining himself to the role as demarcated by the Constitution and he is playing an active political role in the state,” JD(U) leader and NDA’s Chief Minister candidate Nitish Kumar said.
Taking exception to Buta Singh’s statement that Jharkhand developments had prompted him to recommend President’s rule in Bihar, he said this displayed his “real intensions.”
BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitely said the Governor, it seemed, had a “bias” in favour of certain political parties and alleged he was running a “surrogate” administration in Bihar.
Earlier, a NDA delegation called on the Election Commission for appointing “impartial and pro-active’’ observers, to ensure a free and fair election in Bihar.
In a memorandum handed over to the commission, it also urged to ensure that the observers were accessible to the political parties for information and monitoring of the election process.
The delegation comprising chief ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, also pointed out that since the elections were being held during the festival season it was important that strict vigil was maintained to see that Dasehra, Divali and Ramzan were not misused for political purposes.
It also sought effective deployment of paramilitary forces with ‘full video coverage’ of the activities that would take place inside the booths.
Appreciating the steps taken by the commission during the last election, the delegation requested for effectively sealing of borders of districts and flushing out criminal elements before the poll.
