Fearing what lies ahead if the Congress led United Progressive Alliance loses power, it is believed that 19 governors appointed by it are considering putting in their papers. Karnataka's Hansraj Bhardwaj has already submitted his papers and is awaiting clearance from the party high command, reports a correspondent.
A city court has reserved judgment for Saturday 2 pm on a criminal complaint against withdrawal of a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged "benami" properties held by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh in the name of his two sons and daughter-in-law, Dimple, wife of MP son Akhilesh.
The United Progressive Alliance government seems to have adopted a go-slow approach on whether it would move to dismiss the Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka and is likely to let the Bharatiya Janata Party sweat it out and keep the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
Arun Jaitley, general secretary of Bhartiya Janata party and noted Supreme court advocate, said that the arguments given by union law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj and several other constitutional experts were wrong in their assumption that since the government was the appointing authority, hence they too have the right to decide about the removal of a constitutional authority.
Strange that the Law Ministry acted as the legal adviser to Chawla who sought its opinion on the explanation sought by CEC N Gopalaswami and now its minister claims that the CEC has no powers to recommend an election commissioner's removal unless asked for by the President, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad asserted. The Congress was, however, quick to rubbish the BJP charge of the nexus between Bhardwaj and Chawla.
Kalam begins his tour with a three-day visit to Singapore.
Hans Raj Bhardwaj has slammed his own party, calling it too weak to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Former Union law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj on Friday alleged that some of his Congress Party colleagues, especially former HRD Minister Arjun Singh, had asked him to influence the judiciary during his time in office under the first Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2004 to 2009.