BJP demands recall of Karnataka governor

NEW DELHI - Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj had “defied all norms of political impartiality” and should be recalled, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded Tuesday as its legislators from the state arrived in the city to discuss the way forward.

“He (Bhardwaj) has defied all norms of political impartiality and constitutionality,” senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley told reporters here.

“He has allowed Raj Bhavan to be used for political purposes, for the purpose of destabilising the government and horse-trading,” said Jaitley.

The BJP government in Karnataka has been in the thick of a crisis since 11 legislators, along with five Independents, rebelled against the leadership of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The chief minister won a confidence motion in the state assembly by voice vote amidst chaotic scenes Monday, but Governor Bhardwaj recommended president’s rule in the state. The governor also gave Yeddyurappa a “fresh opportunity” to prove majority in the house again by Oct 14.

Jaitley alleged that leaders of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Congress and rebel members of the legislative assembly “who have defied the anti-defection law have been operating out of Raj Bhavan”.

“All this indicates that the governor has completely lost his impartiality. He cannot be the custodian of the constitution in the state,” Jaitley said. “The central government must immediately recall the governor.”

He said that BJP felt that there was no political crisis nor constitutional crisis.

It is a crisis being deliberated generated by the governor of the state, said Jaitley.

The BJP leader claimed that the government had written a letter to the Karnataka speaker K.G. Bopaiah, asking him not to exercise his powers under the anti-defection law and almost threatening that his verdict would not be accepted.

Jaitley, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, noted the governor who had again written to the speaker Tuesday saying that the verdict of assembly was not acceptable and farcical.

How can the government of India… countenance the continuity of a governor who resolves to this kind of extra-constitutionality, said Jaitley.

BJP legislators are in the national capital and will meet senior leader L.K. Advani Tuesday evening.