Congress divided over former CJI as governor

New Delhi: The Congress Wednesday was caught in a rift as two leaders voiced contradicting opinion on the appointment of former chief justice of India P. Sathasivam as the Kerala governor.

While Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma slammed the government for patronising retired judges, Manish Tewari said no motive can be attributed to Sathasivam being appointed governor of a state.

All India Women's Congress president Shobha Oza later downplayed Tewari's comments saying it was his personal opinion.

"We have made it crystal clear that whatever party spokesperson Anand Sharma has said on the issue is the official party line and any other person speaking on the issue is their personal view," Oza told the media.

Tewari had told TV news channel Times Now that there was "no constitutional or legal bar on a former CJI to becoming a governor".

This was in sharp contrast to Sharma's statement Tuesday.

"(Former) CJI of India should not be open to government patronage. This is sending wrong messages and raising doubt," Sharma had said.