Centre rejects governor Bhardwaj's report on Karnataka

The Centre on Sunday brought down the curtains on the weeklong stand-off between Karnataka governor HR Bhardwaj and chief minister BS Yeddyurappa by rejecting the former’s recommendation for dismissal of the BJP govt and imposition of President’s Rule in the state. HT reports.

The Centre on Sunday brought down the curtains on the weeklong stand-off between Karnataka governor HR Bhardwaj and chief minister BS Yeddyurappa by rejecting the former’s recommendation for dismissal of the BJP government and imposition of President’s Rule in the state.

But as a face-saver for Bhardwaj after the snub, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) decided that the home ministry would write to the state government on "issues" raised by him following the Supreme Court setting aside the disqualification of 16 MLAs, 11 of whom belong to the BJP.

The CCPA meet, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, took place after the conclusion of the second anniversary celebrations of the UPA-2 government.

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Later, home minister P Chidambaram said, “The CCPA met today to discuss the Karnataka governor’s report and after careful consideration decided not to accept his recommendations.”

“An advisory will be issued,” Chidambaram said, and hoped that the state government would take note of it.
The Centre’s decision came five days after BSY paraded 114 MLAs before President Pratibha Patil to prove his majority in the 225-member assembly.

The BJP delegation had also demanded Bhardwaj’s recall. With the Centre rejecting his recommendation, Bhardwaj will now have to act on the Karnataka Cabinet seeking convening of the state assembly from the first week of June to pass the budget.

Bhardwaj triggered the crisis when he sent a special report to the Centre on May 15, recommending President's Rule and keeping the assembly in suspended animation, citing a breakdown in the constitutional mechinary in the state.

Led by Siddaramaiah and G Parameshwara, Congress leaders from Karnataka met the PM on Saturday to press for dismissal of the BSY government. But the party high command was of the view that with the numbers on BSY’s side, the Congress was fighting a weak case and the governor would have to convene the legislature session as sought by the BJP.