BJP wants outster of Karnataka Governor
A day ahead of the fresh trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly to prove B S Yeddyyurappa’s majority, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday and formally submit a memorandum seeking Governor HR Bhardwaj’s ouster.
Bhardwaj, who had recommended imposition of President’s rule after the BJP led coalition Ministry won the motion of confidence by voice vote hours after Speaker K G Bopaiah disqualified 16 ‘rebel’ MLAs on Monday, asked the beleaguered Chief Minister once again to seek a fresh mandate for his Government on the floor of the House on Thursday.
The BJP, which accused the Governor of plunging the state into a constitutional crisis and acting in a partisan manner, however, acceded to Bhardwaj for holding a second trust vote in a span of four days, perhanps unprecedented in India’s Parliamentary history since independence.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyyurappa has warned that the Governor’s role might trigger a country-wide Centre-state debate if Bhardwaj continued his “partisan” gubernatorial role.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley also alleged that the crisis was being deliberately generated by the Governor.
Janata Dal(Secular), BJP’s rival in the state, on the other hand, was peeved at the Governor calling for a second trust vote when he recommended President’s rule.
“After sending a recommendation for dismissal of the Government, why ask for a second trust vote,” asked J D(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy.
On Monday, the Governor had shot off a report to the Centre recommending President’s Rule after writing to the Speaker on how to hold the trust vote.
“I am fed up with this corruption. So long as I am here, I have to convince you that there is no politics as far as I am concerned. The Legislature has failed,” the Governor told journalists at Raj Bhavan.
Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily said, “Everyone has a right to talk to everyone…BJP’s charges are politically motivated, they are doing this to cover their own lapses. This shows their character.”