Ranchi, Dec. 22: Taking umbrage at Raj Bhavan questioning the need for a supplementary budget, the chief minister and his predecessor today accused the governor of stalling the winter session of the Assembly.

In an unusual, and possibly unprecedented, press conference, both Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi alleged that since a gap of seven days, after notification, was required to convene the Assembly, the Raj Bhavan?s refusal to notify the session is an interference with the democratic process.

There is also the constitutional requirement, the duo pointed out, of not allowing an interval of more than 180 days between two sessions of the Assembly.

The session, therefore, requires to be convened before December 28 but the Raj Bhavan has chosen to send back the file with queries, instead of convening the session on Monday next week, as recommended by the chief minister, they claimed.

Raj Bhavan sources said the governor was entitled to seek information under Article 167 of the Constitution. All that the governor had done, they said, was to inquire why a supplementary budget was required and the details of the expenditure made under budgetary provisions this year. The governor is also believed to have inquired about the urgency to hold the session after the election has been announced and whether the government had sought the opinion of the Election Commission.

Till late on Wednesday evening, Raj Bhavan had not received any reply.

The chief minister claimed that the session was required to approve the supplementary budget because the state required more money for development projects and to meet the election expenses. He would call on the governor and request him to re-consider the decision, the CM declared.

Former chief minister and BJP national vice-president Babulal Marandi was even more vocal. ?There are several instances when Assembly and parliament sessions were held when the model code of conduct was in force. Just before the last Lok Sabha election, Parliament carried out its routine business despite announcement of the poll programme.

?Razi should maintain the dignity of his high office and should not interfere unnecessarily in the functioning of the government,? Marandi added.

Observers felt that Munda had deliberately delayed the request for convening the assembly. With the model code of conduct in force, the government can safely get away by choosing not to get the approval of the House on the contentious issue of declaring Kurmis as tribals.