Karnataka: Yeddyurappa meets Governor

After a bonhomie during the day at a public function, political combatants of Karnataka – Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Governor H R Bhardwaj – met in the evening though the governor did not commit anything on the convening of the assembly on June 2.

“We have not got any response from the governor on summoning of assembly on June 2,” said Yeddyurappa, adding that the Governor told him that he was waiting for the decision of the central government on his earlier special report against the state government .

Yeddyurappa said the governor “listened very patiently” and their “protests will continue in a peaceful manner”.

Earlier during the day, showing a temporary burial of their hatchets, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj at a function said he is a friend of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

The remark came a day after he issued a hard-hitting statement against the CM and slammed him for a “constitutional breakdown”.

Yeddyurappa also had paraded his MLAs before the President in New Delhi to show his strength on Tuesday and demanding removal of Bhardwaj after the governor advised President’s rule in the state.

Warming up to each other at the public function in the morning, Bhardwaj said he is not partial to anyone, he is a friend of Yeddyurappa. He also told reporters that he will stay as the Governor for five years.

“I am not giving resignation. I am here for five years,” Governor said, reacting to the demand for his recall by the BJP.

He told the public gathering where both were seen evening patting in their hands: “We are friends. These political tensions are irrelevant.”

Bhardwaj then said: “We have to dedicate ourselves to Constitution, and law.”

“None of us change our views. On principle no body sits on Mouth Everest for long time,” Bhardwaj said.

Earlier in the morning, the CM said he would meet the Governor and “request him to give clearance to start our session from the second of next month.”

Yeddyurappa on Tuesday evening paraded 122 MLAs before President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi, proving that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the magic numbers to remain in the hot seat in the southern state.

After meeting the president, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said they have urged the President to recall Governor H R Bhardwaj who, he alleged, was resorting unconstitutional means to dislodge a majority government and suggesting President’s rule.

Yeddyurappa said he had proved his majority before President Pratibha Patil.

In Karnataka, Governor H R Bhardwaj on the other hand issued a strong statement saying the Chief Minister and the Speaker tampered with numbers as he justified the President’s rule.

Earlier, reacting to Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj?s recommendation of President?s Rule in the state, Yeddyurappa said he has full confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and hoped he won?t take any ?undemocratic? decision.

“Let us not presume things. I have got 100 percent confidence in the Prime Minister that he will not take any undemocratic decision and I have got 100 percent hope that we will get justice,” Yeddyurappa told reporters on Tuesday.

“Governor of Karnataka has been trying to destabilise our government right from beginning. We request President and Prime Minister to save Karnataka, to save democracy by recalling the Governor,” Yeddyurappa had told mediapersons.

The BJP in Karnataka, beefed by the renewed backing of 16 legislators who had earlier rebelled, and led by senior leader Advani, slammed the governor?s call for President?s rule in Karnataka as illegal, unconstitutional and “a murder of democracy.”

The Congress-led coalition at the Centre trod carefully and seemed non-committal over the government?s report and appeal to establish President?s rule.

The governor had recommended President?s rule citing a constitutional breakdown in the state and emboldened by a Supreme Court verdict overturning the suspensions of the 16 MLAs last year by the assembly speaker.

Bhardwaj alleged that B S Yeddyurappa and Speaker K G Bopaiah misused the constitutional provisions to win trust vote in October last year.

A total of 16 MLAs — five independents and 11 from the BJP who had rebelled against the CM — were suspended by Speaker K G Bopaiah on Oct 11 last year, hours before B S Yeddyurappa’s trust vote, allowing him to win by a wafer-thin margin.

The Karnataka Assembly has 225 seats.

But all the MLAs in a volte-face backed Yeddyurappa on Sunday last.