BJP demands removal of ‘partisan’ Karnataka governor

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE - Describing Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj as “partisan” and “an agent of the Congress doing a dirty job”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday demanded his removal and said it will monitor the situation in the party-ruled state to decide the future course of action.

BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi: “The governor should be recalled. The Bangalore Raj Bhavan has been transformed into a Congress office by him.”

The BJP demand came amidst reports that the governor has sent a report to the central government calling for imposition of president’s rule in Karnataka, where 16 rebel legislators were disqualified ahead of the vote of confidence in the legislative assembly.

In the morning, the B.S. Yeddyurappa-led government won a confidence vote by voice vote in controversial circumstances. Sixteen legislators — 11 of the ruling BJP and six Independents — were disqualified by Speaker K.G. Bopaiah just before the voting. The rebel MLAs alleged they were prevented from entering the house.

In Bangalore, BJP vice-president K. Venkaiah Naidu termed the confidence vote win of the BJP government, the party’s first in south India, as a “victory of the people”.

Regarding the governor’s recommendation for the central rule in the state, Naidu said: “Let him do whatever he wants to do.” He said the party would monitor the situation and decide on the future action plan.