Is PM for recall of Jharkhand Governor?

Informed Congress sources said on Thursday both Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Gandhi were "anguished" and "upset".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh favours the sacking of Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi for "violating constitutional norms" by swearing in a government of questionable majority.

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Informed Congress sources said on Thursday both Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Gandhi were "anguished" and "upset" over the Governor's invitation to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren to form a government in the state amid doubts about his having a majority, the sources said.

Soren's JMM is part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

In a meeting at the prime minister's residence, attended by senior Congress leaders like Ambika Soni, Ahamed Patel, besides Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister expressed distress over the turn of events, the sources.

"The prime minister was very upset over the political developments in Jharkhand and Goa," a congress leader said.

"He feels that constitutional norms have been violated there," he told IANS.

Gandhi, according to the sources, was "trying to wriggle out" of the political embarrassment. They said that though she had suggested that the governor could be recalled, senior leaders like ML Fotedar and Arjun Singh had discouraged her.

"Their argument was that such a move would give political mileage to the opposition and they would continue to use pressure tactics on the government," the sources said.