Sack Yeddyurappa, or else i quit: Governor

Bangalore Mirror

Bangalore, 17 May 2011: While chief minister B S Yeddyurappa devised and executed desperate measures to cling on to power, Governor H R Bharadwaj on Monday reportedly dashed off an ultimatum to the Centre: Sack the government, or else I quit.

 

Sources in the Congress high command told Bangalore Mirror that the governor, who in a report to the Centre recommended dismissal of the BJP government, is hell-bent on ousting Yeddyurappa and company. Although neither the governor nor his officials at Raj Bhavan made any public statement to this effect, it is said that the showdown between him and the BJP government has reached a point of no-return.

 

Bharadwaj, prior to his return to Bangalore from New Delhi on Sunday, met prime minister Manmohan Singh and other key leaders of the Congress and briefed them on the political situation in Karnataka. Armed with the May 13 Supreme Court order that nullified the Speaker’s disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs (a move that had helped Yeddyurappa to win the confidence vote six months ago), Bha-radwaj reportedly convinced the Con-gress high command that it was the right time to remove the Yeddyurappa government.

 

 

Even though the rebel MLAs  surprised many by pledging support to Yeddyurappa, Bharadwaj forwarded his report to the Centre, seeking dismissal of the government on the grounds that it had: Violated a series of constitutional provisions; had misused constitutional positions (referring to the Speaker’s decision to disqualify rebel MLAs); and abused power for personal gains (corruption charges against Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues).

 

The governor’s report put the Congress high command in a piquant situation as any action against the Yeddyurappa government, which now enjoys a majority in the Vidhana Soudha, might open a Pandora’s box. A discussion on the report on Monday morning saw the UPA leaders divided on the next course of action. A majority of them insisted that Bharadwaj’s report be put on the back-burner as dismissal of Yeddyurappa government would prove suicidal for the party in Karnataka.

 

The Congress high command then made efforts to speak to Bharadwaj. However, sources said, he planned to quit by the weekend if the Centre did not act on his recommendation. Sources close to Bharadwaj said: “This is the second time he has recommended dissolution of the assembly. He feels that there is no point in continuing if his recommendations are not acted on.” 

 

Bharadwaj is miffed as the BJP went on to the streets, shouting slogans against him and demanding his recall.

 

Meanwhile, home minister P Chidambaram has forwarded the governor’s recommendation to the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs for discussion. Manmohan Singh said they would not do anything unconstitutional. There were also rumours of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah being made governor should Bharadwaj quit.