LK Advani takes fight to President, demands Gujarat governor's recall

NEW DELHI: Taking the fight between Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and governor Kamla Beniwal over the controversial appointment of retired high court judge Justice R A Mehta as the Lokayukta of the state, senior BJP leader L K Advani met President Pratibha Patil seeking the governor's ouster.

Spearheading the BJP's campaign at the Centre, Advani led a BJP delegation to the President on Friday demanding the governor's recall.

Earlier, Advani had said, "The Constitution requires the governor to appoint the Lokayukta only on the aide and advice of the Council of Ministers. That provision of the Constitution has been violated. We are thinking of going to the President to demand the Governor's recall."

Even before the battle could reach the President's doorstep, Narendra Modi shot off a letter to the Prime Minister on Thursday demanding the removal of the governor.

Modi asked the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to recall Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal for violating constitutional norms in appointing Justice (retired) Mehta as the state's Lokayukta.

Terming the appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat to be an attack on the democratic structure of the country, Advani had on August 30 said that he would soon meet President Patil on the issue

"We are going to meet the President on September 1 or 2 when she returns to the capital. All norms were ignored by the Governor like consultation with the chief minister before the appointment or taking the advice of his Cabinet on the issue," Advani had said.

"The Lokayukta was appointed by the governor bypassing all established norms. Yes, we are going to meet the President over this," he added.

Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal had last Friday appointed R A Mehta as the new Lokayukta of the state.