Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds: BJP

Shimla, Dec 23 (UNI) BJP in-charge for the Himachal affairs, Satpal Jain, today asked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to reconsider his decision of continuing in office till the expiry of his present term in March next year.

''The Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds after the results on December 28,'' Mr Jain said while predicting a BJP victory in the hill state and then commenting on Mr Singh's decision to continue in office till March 8.

''Moreover in accordance with the constitutional norms the Governor and the President of India can dissolve the assembly,'' he said while addressing a media conference here.

Exuberent after the Gujarat win, Mr Jain said the BJP in a meeting had decided to oppose the petition, which a Congress minister had filed in the High Court to postpone counting till the expiry of the present government's term.

''The Congress has already conceded defeat through this petition,'' he added.

He said the Chief Minister's statement to continue in office after a BJP win was not '' appropriate as per the norms of democracy''.

UNI