In unprecedented attack on a Bihar governor by a deputy chief minister, Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP described outgoing governor Devanand Konwar as one of the "most corrupt governors" the state has seen.
"This is the reason why he was transferred (on Saturday, to Tripura)," Modi said at a public meeting in Sheohar district of north Bihar on Sunday. Reached by HT late on Sunday, Modi confirmed what he had said.
Till late Monday, there was no reaction to Modi's utterances from the Raj Bhawan. Officials in the governor's secretariat said Konwar was out of Patna.
"There's a need for an impartial inquiry into Konwar's controversial tenure. Even a Congress MLC said so in the upper house recently," deputy CM Modi said at the function. He was referring to Congress MLC Jyoti, who had alleged during the Governor's address to a joint sitting of the two houses of the Bihar legislature on February 18, that "corruption" had taken place in the appointment of vice-chancellors of various universities in Bihar.
The appointment of VCs falls within the jurisdiction of the governor in his capacity as chancellor of the universities of Bihar. The state government has been alleging irregularities in the appointment of VCs by Konwar.
{{/usCountry}}The appointment of VCs falls within the jurisdiction of the governor in his capacity as chancellor of the universities of Bihar. The state government has been alleging irregularities in the appointment of VCs by Konwar.
{{/usCountry}}Modi said Konwar recruited VCs without consulting the state government as mandated by the law. "Though questions were raised about his decisions, he did not resolve issues with government," he added.