TAKING CUE from the ongoing Anna Hazare protest, Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal snubbed the ruling Gujarat government and elected retired High Court Judge R.A. Mehta as the state’s new Lokayukta. The ruling UPA government has welcomed the decision but has been lying in a comatose state in New Delhi.

The post of the state Lokayukta had been lying vacant in the state for the last seven years but the move by the Governor at this point of time has attracted the ire of the ruling BJP government in Gujarat.

The move now puts the government and the constitutional head at loggerheads. Since the retirement of Gujarat’s last Lokayukta in 2003, it took the Narendra Modi-led BJP government three years to find a replacement. However, soon after a suggestion was turned down by the then state Governor stating technical issues, which were not highlighted.

Leader of the Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil was quoted saying by a newssite that for over seven years the government has been sitting on the important file. However, the leader of the Opposition was also blamed by the ruling party for not being a part of the talks.