Author: Kestur Vasuki
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 11, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/289147/Governor-exceeds-brief-sides-with-K'taka-rebels.html
An all-out war has broken out between the
BJP and Karnataka Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj with the party calling him an
"agent of the Congress" and asking President Pratibha Patil to immediately
recall him for directing the Speaker against disqualifying the rebel MLAs,
who have given in writing that they were withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa
Government.
The development came a day before the Chief
Minister seeks to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly on Monday.
Ignoring the Governor's directive, Speaker KG Bopaiah heard the disqualification
petitions and counsels of both sides for over three hours. He has reserved
his ruling, legislature sources said.
In New Delhi, Leader of Opposition in the
Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said, "Nothing short of the immediate recall
of the Governor will restore faith in constitutional governance in Karnataka."
She accused the Governor of throwing "all
established norms and gubernatorial conduct to the winds" by his highly
objectionable communication to the Speaker. "The tone, tenor and content
of his letter to the Speaker make it clear that the Governor is determined
to interfere with the legislative process and infringe on the authority of
a constitutional functionary, namely, the Speaker," she added.
Bhardwaj's letter has evoked strong reaction
from the Speaker as well. Upset by the letter, which is a virtual directive,
Bopaiah has written back to the Governor questioning his authority to issue
such directions.
Bhardwaj stepped in before the Speaker could
take a decision on the disqualification of MLAs sought by the leader of the
BJP legislative party and the Chief Minister for withdrawing support to his
Government.
Bhardwaj directed Bopaiah to maintain status
quo in the 224-member House which stood as on October 6, asking him not to
act on the issue of disqualification of MLAs.
According to the letter, the Governor also
warned the Speaker that in the event of Bopaiah ignoring his directive, his
decision would be final.
The directive also said the process of CM
BS Yeddyurappa seeking the trust vote on Monday to prove the majority of his
Government as per his direction should be held in accordance with the law
and all the legislators should be allowed to participate in the exercise.
Taking strong objection to the letter of directive
written by Governor Bhardwaj, Bopaiah wrote back that he was dismayed at the
directive and he was aware of the constitutional framework. Questioning the
logic of issuing such a directive to the Speaker he made it clear that he
would take action as per the rules.
The Speaker also heard the petition of disqualification
of dissident MLAs who were represented by their lawyers. Sources said the
Speaker, after careful examination of the each case, reserved his ruling.
According to political observers, the Speaker would give a ruling just before
the commencement of the House, making it impossible for the dissidents to
approach the courts.
Irked by the directive of the Governor to
the Speaker, the BJP called him as an "agent" of the Congress party
in destabilising the Yeddyurappa Government.
"It is important to note the Governor
of Karnataka has stooped down to the level of a politician belonging to the
Opposition. He issues a threatening letter to the Speaker. The Governor is
a constitutional authority and also the Speaker. The Governor has no business
to interfere in the functioning of the Speaker of legislature. This has exposed
the Governor totally to show that he is acting at behest of the Congress party,"
senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.
"And he has now become the partner of
destabilisation move in the State. The Governor is supposed to be custodian
of the Constitution and has to act as guide for the State Government. On the
other hand, he is openly encouraging destabilisation. He is suggesting the
Speaker how to conduct himself, forgetting how to function as the Governor
by giving advice to the Speaker," said Naidu.
In a related development, JD(S) leader HD
Kumaraswamy accompanied almost all the rebel BJP MLAs as well as those of
the Congress and the JD(S) to Bangalore from Chennai.
The Congress and the JD(S) are working in
tandem to face the Assembly on Monday to defeat the BJP Government. Congress
leader of the legislature party, Siddaramaiah, and JD(S) legislature party
leader in the Assembly, HD Revanna, met in a hotel and were closeted for more
than an hour.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Gali Janardhana
Reddy asserted that the Yeddyurappa Government would win the trust vote. BJP
State General Secretary CT Ravi said he and chief whip DN Jeevaraj have petitioned
to the Speaker KG Bopaiah to disqualify the dissident MLAs, who have announced
withdrawal of support to the Government, noting that they have ditched the
party under whose symbol they had won. All political parties have issued whip
to their flock.
In the 224-member House, BJP has 117 members,
followed by Congress 73, JD(S) 28 and independents six. A mark of 113 is required
to prove majority in the House.
Floor test today
Karnataka Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj has directed
the Assembly Speaker not to disqualify the rebel MLAs who have given in writing
of withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa Government
He directed the Speaker to maintain status
quo in the 224-member House which stood as on October 6, asking him not to
act on the issue of disqualification of MLAs
The Speaker wrote back to the Governor that
he was dismayed at the directive and he was aware of the constitutional framework.
Questioning the logic of issuing such a directive to the Speaker, he made
it clear that he would take action as per the rules
Ignoring the Governor's directive, Speaker
KG Bopaiah heard the disqualification petitions and counsels of both sides
for more than three hours. He reserved his orders
According to political observers, the Speaker
would give a ruling just before the commencement of the House today, making
it impossible for the dissidents to approach courts
