Kalyan Singh as Bengal governor? Parties 'concerned'

The West Bengal assembly Wednesday discussed reports taht BJP leader Kalyan Singh could become governor of the state. "Expressing concern", the parties said the central government should consult Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee before deciding the issue.

The Left Front, which Tuesday protested in the house and staged a walk-out on the matter, was Wednesday allowed by Speaker Biman Banerjee to raise the matter.

Participating in the discussion, CPI-M leader Anisur Rahman said his party was in favour of abolishing the post of the governor.

"But it has not been done. Now, we don't want somebody as governor who has a communal stigma."

Kalyan Singh was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992.

Congress legislature party leader Mohammad Sohrab said the talk of Kalyan Singh taking over as Bengal governor was hypothetical. "Nothing has been finalised as yet. But yes, if somebody with a communal tag is sent, that won't be right."

Trinamool Congress lawmaker Shilbhadra Dutta said the central government should consult Banerjee before finalising the name of the next governor. "This is as per the Sarkaria Commission recommendation, and the central government must follow it."

The governor's post is vacant following the resignation of M.K. Narayanan June 30.