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Bhandari arrives in Delhi amidst rumours about his resignation

Bihar Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari arrived in New Delhi today amidst speculation that he had resigned his post angered by the treatment he got from the Centre following the Rabri Devi government's dismissal.

Bhandari who arrived by the Howrah-Patna-Delhi Rajdhani told the media that he had neither taken a decision nor had he prepared any schedule for his current visit.

He was certainly 'hurt and embarrassed' by the turn of events that had taken place in the last two days, he said without referring to the statement of Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani that the government would be posting an 'apolitical' person as governor of Bihar.

Bhandari, who left by an official car for the residence of a former Delhi minister at Kalkaji, said he had read about the feelings of members of Parliament from Bihar in the media.

Some MPs had also met him and wanted him to continue as governor.

He also declined to state if he would be meeting President K R Narayanan.

''I have told you my position,'' he said. Asked if his return ticket to Patna was ready, Bhandari said, ''I have not thought of it.''

Political sources said Bhandari had chose to travel by train to show his anger over the treatment meted out to him.

Reports from Patna said that Bhandari had even bid farewell to the Raj Niwas employees. He was quoted as saying that he was more hurt by the attitude of the government than the vitriolic diatribes of Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad Yadav and his team.

Among those who received the governor at the railway station were former Delhi food and civil supplies minister Poornima Sethi.

UNI

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