Under fire for ignoring the NDA numbers and installing a UPA government in Jharkhand, Governor Syed Sibtey Razi today emerged from a meeting with President A P J Abdul Kalam to announce that the Assembly would be convened ‘‘at the earliest’’ for Chief Minister Shibu Soren to face a trial of strength.His decision to advance the floor test from March 21—he is likely to fix it for March 11—followed summons from the President after a political storm travelled from Ranchi to New Delhi. On the backfoot, the Congress leadership also distanced itself from the Governor’s decision.‘‘The way the situation has developed, I am going to prepone the date for proving majority by reducing the time for the purpose,’’ Sibtey Razi told reporters in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan after a 30-minute meeting with Kalam.Later, after discussions with Home Minister Shivraj Patil, he said: ‘‘I will instruct the government to advance the (session of) Assembly and call it soon.’’ He said a fresh date would be announced in Ranchi in ‘‘two or three days’’ after discussions with various parties.He said he presented all ‘‘constitutional and legal aspects’’ to the President who gave him a ‘‘patient hearing’’.Speaking to The Indian Express, Sibtey Razi, claimed he was ‘‘under no influence from anyone’’ while acting the way he did.‘‘I was under no influence from anyone. No one intervened in my decision-making process or spoke to me.’’ He rubbished reports that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had a role in influencing his decision or that the Prime MInister was not happy with his move. ‘‘I have not got that feeling.’’‘‘She (Sonia) should not know either because I took the decision based on the Constitution, the practice, Sarkaria Commission, facts from Election Commission and legal aspects.’’ ‘‘It was important to verify the Independents simply because they were mentioned in the lists presented by the NDA and UPA. Then I found that the UPA had majority and invited them,’’ he said.He maintains he had not met the other MLAs and denies that they were paraded before him as a show of strength. ‘‘Stability was one of the factors. Prima facie I found the strength to be with the UPA,’’ he said. He said he was not surprised that the NDA flew to Delhi its 36 MLAs and 5 Independents and presented them before President. ‘‘People of the country will answer them.’’On whether his Congress past was instrumental in the UPA being handed charge of the state, Sibtey Razi said: ‘‘There have been many governors with RSS, BJP affiliations. It is wrong to single me out for criticism.’’He cited the S R Bommai case while explaining his decision. ‘‘There can be difference of opinion on any decision. But derogatory words were used against me by the very people who were talking about constitutional values, when I myself hold a constitutional position.’’‘‘The ultimate judgment on whether the decision was right or wrong will be done on the floor of the House,’’ he said.
