(Image: PTI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday voiced his displeasure over the appointment of senior BJP leader Ram Nath Kovind as new Governor for the state without consulting him, saying he got the information through media.
“As per the precedent so far, the central government, the Home Minister talks to the state government, its Chief Minister on it (appointment of Governor)… This time there is no consultation. I have also got the information (about the appointment) through media,” Kumar told reporters when asked about the appointment of Kovind.
69-year-old Kovind, who had been a two-time Rajya Sabha member between 1994 and 2006, hails from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. His appointment comes barely few months ahead of the Assembly elections due in Bihar. West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi was holding additional charge of Bihar.
A lawyer by profession, Kovind had also been BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha chief.
Nitish said he has “just now” got to know about the appointment of the Governor for Bihar through media and stressed that his experience and his knowledge of precedents so far tell him that Chief Ministers are consulted before any such appointment.
Kumar is in the national capital holding discussions with migrants from Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.