Function as per constitution, BJP tells Karnataka governor

BANGALORE - The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Thursday said it expects Karnataka Governor H. R. Bhardwaj, who has been criticizing its government in the state, to function as per constitutional norms.

“The BJP expects the governor to function within the purview of the constitution,” senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley told reporters when asked about Bhardwaj’s frequent attacks on the B.S. Yeddyurappa-led government.

Bhardwaj has been highly critical of the way the Yeddyurappa ministry has been functioning and over the alleged scams the chief minister and some of his ministers are involved in.

Jaitley declined to dwell more on the issue of Bhardwaj versus the state government.

The senior BJP leader has been given “special responsibility” to look after the Karnataka affairs in the light of allegations against Yeddyurappa that he has favoured his close kin with allotment of prime land in and around Bangalore.

Jaitley arrived here late Wednesday along with general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, who is in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, for a meeting of the party’s core committee.

The two held talks with Yeddyurappa, state BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa, Bangalore Lok Sabha member H.N. Ananth Kumar and other leaders forming the core committee.

On the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular’s demand for sacking Yeddyurappa for his nepotism, Jaitley said the two parties should debate the land and other scandals in the legislature that begins its ten-day session Jan 6.

He said the issue of removing Yeddyurappa was not discussed.

The discussions were “essentially related to the political situation in the state” in the light of the elections to local governing councils. The elections would get over Jan 1 and the results would be out Jan 4. The first phase was held Dec 26, second phase is due Friday and the last Jan 1.

“We discussed at length the on-going panchayat elections. We are optimistic of doing extremely well,” Jaitley said.

The committee would meet again after the results, he said.

Yeddyurappa has won a breather from the party leadership to stay on in office on the promise that he would lead the BJP to victory in the year-end polls.