Recall Governor, says CPI(ML)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 4. A delegation of the CPI(ML) called on the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, today and demanded the immediate recall of the Governor of Bihar, Mr. Vinod Pande, for installing the Nitish Kumar-led NDA Government in the State in an ``illegal and unconstitutional'' manner, even as the Janata Dal (United) gave a call to the newly-elected Bihar Congress(I) legislators to exercise their ``conscience'' during the trial of strength in the Bihar Assembly to be faced by the Chief Minister.

The CPI(ML) delegation, consisting of Dr. Jayanta Rongpi and Mr. Rajaram, handed over a memorandum to the President in support of their demand. It described the action of the Governor as ``hasty, ill-conceived and blatantly biased'' and said, in the delicate balance of forces prevailing in Bihar, the installation of an NDA Government could only be viewed as an invitation to horse-trading and a repetition of the BJP's infamous Uttar Pradesh example in Bihar.

A press statement by the party said it has already launched a campaign in Bihar to spread awareness and resistance against the BJP's bid to usurp power, and as part of the campaign, a protest day has been observed today all over the State.

In another development, addressing a news conference the Janata Dal (United) general secretary, Mr. Mohan Prakash, defended the Bihar Governor's decision to invite Mr. Nitish Kumar to form the Government and accused the Opposition parties of double-speak. He was confident that the NDA would prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly within the stipulated time of 10 days given by the Governor.

Mr. Prakash said the Congress(I), which fought the election against the ``jungle raj and corruption'' of the RJD Government, had been thoroughly exposed after the so-called high command decided to support the RJD's claim to form a government.

He claimed that a majority of Congress(I) legislators were opposed to the decision being thrust on them by the central leadership and hoped that they will follow the ``established'' Congress tradition of opting for a conscience vote. ``We hope all the 23 Congress(I) MLAs will vote in favour of the NDA Government.''

Mr. Prakash claimed that some of the Congress(I) MLAs had even met the Governor to inform of their disapproval of the decision of party high command on supporting the RJD. He said that NDA was hopeful of securing the support of 17 or 18 Independents.

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