Bangalore, May 15: The BJP Government in Karnataka today plunged into a crisis with Governor H R Bhardwaj recommending dismissal of the Yeddyurappa ministry and imposition of President's Rule in the wake of Supreme Court quashing the disqualification of 11 party rebel MLAs.
The party and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa hit back at the Governor's move saying it is a “conspiracy of the Raj Bhawan that is not acceptable”.
A meeting of NDA leaders may take place tomorrow and a delegation could call on the President to oppose the Governor's recommendation.
On a day of high drama, the Governor, who has been having a troubled relationship with the Government, has sent a “special” report to the Centre, the Raj Bhawan said.
Sources said he has recommended a spell of President's Rule and for keeping the Assembly in suspended animation.
The report from Bhardwaj, who returned here from Delhi this morning, comes in the wake of Supreme Court reversing the Karnataka High Court decision of disqualifying 11 BJP rebel MLAs and five independents ahead of the October 10, 2010 floor test in the Assembly.
Yeddyurappa, whose party earlier in the day claimed that the crisis was over with the rebels extending support to his government, attacked the Governor and urged the President not to give in to his recommendation.
Addressing a late night press conference at his house, Yeddyurappa said the BJP had a majority in the House and the Governor was playing a political game at the behest of Congress and the JD(S).
The Chief Minister said he had written a letter to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking them not to accept the Governor's report.
Party leader Arun Jaitley told reporters in Delhi that the BJP government enjoyed the majority in the Karnataka Assembly and has the support of at least 121 MLAs in the 224-member House with the return of the 11 party rebels.
Attacking the Governor, he said that the state government has asked for the convening of the Assembly session tomorrow, “which he (Bhardwaj) is not allowing”.
In the morning the Governor had said in Delhi that the floor test was not a good idea and his recommendation in the evening is a “conspiracy of the Raj Bhawan which is not acceptable”, Jaitley said. His recommendation is “unconstitutional” and goes against the spirit of federalism.
A brief communique issued by Raj Bhavan said “in the context of recent judgement of the Supreme Court in the matter of disqualification of MLAs on May 13, 2011 and its implications to the developments in the state, a special report has been sent to the Centre”.Yeddyurappa said he has convened the Assembly tomorrow and he was ready to prove his majority on the floor of the House if the Governor so directed.
Earlier, in a virtual snub to Yeddyurappa led BJP Government in Karnataka, Governor H R Bhardwaj today declined an audience to 10 of its MLAs, who went to Raj Bhavan to submit individual letters pledging support to the Chief Minister.
The MLAs, accompanied by a group of ministers, upon arrival from New Delhi were directly taken to Raj Bhavan to call on the governor.
The MLAs and ministers had to wait outside the Raj Bhavan for more than an hour as the security personnel did not allow them inside.
However, a group of ministers-- V Somanna, Umesh Katti, Murugesh Nirani, B N Bacchegowda, Govind Karjol and state's Special Represantative in Delhi V Dhananjayakumar, met the Governor to plead for an appointment to MLAs, which was not accepted by Bhardwaj. PTI
