Government preparing for post poll showdown

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) The UPA government is preparing for a showdown anticipating that the BJP-backed P. Sangma will take the office-of-profit charge against Pranab Mukherjee to the Supreme Court after the presidential election.

The returning office had Tuesday rejected Sangma's charge that Mukherjee continued to hold an office of profit as chairman of the Kolkata-based Indian Statistical Institute. The government said Mukherjee resigned June 20 but Sangma said his signatures were fabricated.

Sources said the preparation has been necessitated keeping in mind the fact that presidential election process can not be challenged once it begins but the aggrieved party can approach the apex court after one month of the date of poll notification June 16.

The preparation for a legal battle includes getting the paperwork right and ensuring no loopholes are left unattended to counter the objections raised by Sangma before the returning officer as the same were likely to figure in his petition.

"Sangma made frivolous charges and these were countered point by point. But this may not be the end of it," said a senior UPA functionary adding: "We will show how foolish and malicious they (the opposition) are."