BJP plans to meet President on September 2

The Bharatiya Janata Party plans to meet President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on September 2 to press her to recall the Gujarat Governor.

Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley said the Governor appointed the Lokaukta on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court without the necessary consultation with and approval of the Chief Minister.

At a joint press conference held after the BJP forced adjournments in both Houses of Parliament on the issue, Ms. Swaraj and Mr. Jaitley said that while they would challenge the Governor's action in courts, they would also meet the President on September 2 to demand the recall of the Governor.

The BJP's case is that the Chief Justice

suo motu recommended the name of retired judge Justice R.A. Mehta for appointment as the Lokayukta on June 7. This name was sent by the Chief Justice to the Chief Minister although the government had not sought a name from him. The leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly later announced his approval of the name given by the Chief Justice and the Governor, without waiting for the Chief Minister's approval, notified Justice Mehta as the Lokayukta on August 25.

The BJP did admit that Gujarat had been without a Lokayukta for the last five to six years. However, the party said past attempts to fill the position were frustrated because the former Governor sat on the file for three years.