Karnataka governor for president rule after BJP survives trust vote

Bangalore : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated victory after its government survived in Karnataka winning the controversial trust vote following disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs by the Speaker, but hours later state Governor H.R. Bhardwaj recommended president’s rule in the state.

In a report faxed to the Centre, Governor, HR Bhardwaj has reportedly recommended President?s rule and has called the confidence vote a ?farce”, according to latest media reports, meaning the celebration in the BJP camp can be premature.

The governor reportedly called the disqualification of the MLAs as ?unethical?.

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily also said that fear psychosis was created in the Assembly.

The governor has reportedly disapproved of the action of Speaker K.G. Bopaiah?s disqualifying 16 MLAs ? 11 of BJP and 5 Independents, and called it unconstitutional.

All non-BJP political parties have slammed the Karnataka government for the latest episode.

“What happened in Karnataka was the complete murder of not only democracy but also constitutionalism as it stands in the country,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said .

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has strongly condemned the ?unconstitutional and undemocratic manner in which the BJP state government in Karnataka has sought to continue to remain in office?.

?As per the Supreme Court ruling in the Bommai judgement, a government has to prove its majority on the Floor of the House to continue in office. Any disqualification of an MLA can occur only after the vote when the party whip has been violated,? the CPI-M said.

?Further, this cannot apply to independent MLAs. The Yeddyurappa government refused to have a division of votes in the House and relied on a voice vote to claim majority,? the communists said.

Earlier it seemed that the six days of high voltage political drama in Karnataka ended with the BJP government winning the confidence vote in the Assembly by a voice vote after the Speaker bailed out the beleaguered Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa by disqualifying 16 rebel MLAs under anti-defection laws.

Speaker K G Bopaiah, who disqualified 16 MLAs — 11 of BJP and five Independents — late Sunday night, announced the victory of Yeddyurappa, who moved the confidence motion, by voice votes.

Three party MLAs had returned earlier after a total of 19 legislators withdrew support to the government on Oct 6.

The Speaker, defying Governor H R Bhardwaj’s advice to maintain the status-quo before the vote of confidence, ordered a list of disqualified legislators to be put up in front of the Assembly gate asking the marshals not to allow any of them to enter the House.

The Head of the state had asked Bopaiah on Sunday to desist from disqualifying any legislators and maintain the full strength of the House during the vote of confidence.

While accusing the Governor of interfering in legislative matters, the Speaker said the action against the disqualified MLAs had been taken under the provision of the anti-defection law as envisaged in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

The disqualified MLAs are Balachandra Jarkiholi, Belur Gopala Krishna, Anand Asnotikar, Sarvabowma Bagali, V Nagaraju, Raje Kage, Y Sampangi, Nanjundaswamy, S K Bellubbi, H S Shankara Lingegowda and Shivanagouda Naik.

As the vote of confidence started, reports came in that the barred MLAs made an abortive attempt to storm the Assembly.

A Marshal was also reportedly assaulted by the opposition MLAs.

The Opposition said they would challenge the Speaker’s ruling disqualifying 16 MLAs.

The Chief Minister, who had been visiting temples since the rebels withdrew support to him, said he was confident about winning the support of majority of lawmakers.

Yeddyurappa said he had “the blessings of God.”

But Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Revanna accused Bopaiah and Yeddyurappa of conspiring and violating democratic tenets.