The Jharkhand government's show-cause notice to Rajbala Verma, seeking an explanation from her for failing to do what she ought to have done in the fodder scam while she was West Singhbhum deputy commissioner in 1990-91, has prompted Opposition leaders to seek her resignation amid a whisper campaign against her within the bureaucracy. JMM, Congress, and JVM leaders have demanded her removal during the budget session of the Assembly beginning January 17. In this context, they refer to finance secretary Sukhdev Singh's offer to be relieved of his responsibilities after a CBI court ordered criminal proceedings to be initiated against him in another fodder scam case. "The dignity of the chief secretary's chair should be maintained. She should be setting a good example for coming generations of bureaucrats," said Lohardaga MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat, also a former officer of the state administrative services. JVM legislature party leader Pradip Yadav, who promised to raise the issue in every possible forum, maintained that his first question during the coming budget session would be on Verma. "The hollowness of chief minister's tall claims on zero tolerance for corruption stands exposed. Rajbala Verma should learn from her colleague Sukhdev Singh. We are going to corner the government on this issue," said JMM MLA Kunal Sarangi.