AHMEDABAD: Peace talk is over in Gujarat with the end of the three-day " Sadbhavana fast " by chief minister Narendra Modi as he takes off his gloves for an attack on the UPA. The Centre is likely to feel the heat shortly with a mass agitation planned against Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal.

This would be a political war for the recall of the governor over her controversial appointment of Justice (Retd.) R A Mehta as Lokayukta last month by bypassing the state government. While the matter is listed for hearing in the Gujarat high court on September 21, Modi has clearly laid down plans for a pitched political battle against a governor who is an old Congress hand from Rajasthan.

After smaller protest meetings at the district level, a very big rally has been planned in Ahmedabad on September 25, a day ahead of the two-day monsoon session of Gujarat assembly where the ruling party will bring a resolution for the recall of the governor and the annulment of the Lokayukta's appointment.

The Modi government has said in a draft resolution that governor has "wrongly appropriated" the function of the duly elected government and her action amounted to a "major subversion" of the federal structure enshrined in the Constitution of India. BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said, "We will not allow Raj Bhavan to be Congress Bhavan. This governor has brought disgrace to the position by playing into the hands of the UPA government ."

The Congress, however, says that under the provisions of the state Lokayukta Act, the chief minister or his council of ministers is not to be consulted on Lokayukta's appointment. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi last month cited a clause in the Act that provides for appointment of the Lokayukta even when the state assembly has been dissolved. Singhvi recalled that the Lokayukta had been appointed in Gujarat between 1986 to 2003 on the basis of one or two names suggested by the Chief Justice of the High Court. Since 2003, however, the state has been without a Lokayukta.

The Congress spokeperson pointed out that though the Chief Justice had in 2010 suggested the name of Justice Dave, the state government sat on the file. Finally, the judge himself opted out. Subsequently in 2011, the Chief Justice suggested the name of Justice RA Mehta, to which the chief minister raised objections and sought another name. The Chief Justice, after having verified Mehta's credentials again, reiterated his name, saying that he was suitable for Lokayukta's office.

The governor forwarded the Chief Justice's letter to Modi, but there was no response from the latter. Subsequently, the governor, after due consultation with the Chief Justice and the Leader of Opposition, appointed Justice Mehta as Lokayukta, Sanghvi said.