January 24, 2006

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Supreme Court Verdict on Bihar House Dissolution

The Supreme Court judgement on the dissolution of the Bihar assembly has indicted the role of the Governor in the manner in which he submitted the report recommending the dissolution. In the light of this judgement, it will be appropriate for Shri Buta Singh to step down from the post of Governor.

The CPI(M) reiterates that the wider question of democratic norms regarding the role of the Governor during the formation of a government after an election and precautions to check arbitrariness in the discretionary powers of the Governor need to be discussed and decided. The problem is not solely of Governors having a political background as the majority judgement points out, but about the latitude and scope of the powers of the Governor.