The Haryana Raj Bhawan continues to pose problems for the Om Prakash Chautala government. Having been at loggerheads with former Governor Babu Parmanand, INLD leaders had hoped that with a new Governor, they would get some relief. But their hopes have been dashed with new Governor A.R. Kidwai sending back the Bill pertaining to amendments in the rules of appointment of the new State Election Commissioner .Kidwai, in fact, has also sought a report on the Gurgaon plot auctions which were allegedly underbid. The timing of his request is significant. Kidwai asked for the report from the government on September 10, the day Chautala left for Pakistan on a goodwill mission.The Gurgaon auctions and the appointment Bill issues have also been raised by Chautala’s archrivals.Haryana Congress had blocked one of the government’s favourites from getting the SEC’s post. The state government had to lose face when it had to appoint the SEC without pressing for the amendments. Now, the Governor’s decision to seek a report on the auctions is likely to fuel differences between the two.The May 24 Gurgaon auctions have become a hot topic, with Randeep Singh Surjewala — who contested against Chautala in the previous Assembly elections — recently leading a delegation to the Governor, demanding a probe into the matter. ‘‘Unfortunately, the Governor is fed information from the same quarter that reported to the former Governor which is fully biased against the Chautala government,’’ alleges an INLD leader.The rivalry between the CM and the former Governor had come out in the open when Parmanand returned the Bill pertaining to amendments in the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994 and the Haryana Municipal Act 1973 without his approval. He sent the Casino Bill to the President which, according to the government, hindered their plan to sign a contract to set up a casino in Gurgaon.Now, with the new Governor having ordered a probe into the Gurgaon auctions, the INLD’s woes are set to increase in the coming days.
