In an unprecedented move, governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Tuesday asked chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to again prove his majority on October 14, holding that the trust vote held on Monday had been a “farce”.
The governor’s move, just a day after he had written to the Centre recommending President’s Rule for Karnataka, came as a surprise to the BJP and a shock to the opposition JD(S).
Mr Bhardwaj explained away his decision as a “fresh opportunity” he was granting Mr Yeddyurappa.
“There is no constitutional provision to do so. I am showing charity to the chief minister by giving him a second chance,” he said after making public his letter to Mr Yeddyurappa. But, he cautioned, his recommendation for President’s Rule still held, too. “My giving an opportunity to chief minister does not mean that I am withdrawing the report. It still holds good”.
The BJP accepted the “charity” after some deliberation. In his letter to Mr Yeddyurappa explaining why he wanted another trust vote, the governor expressed his ire over the manner in which the vote of confidence had been conducted on Monday.
“…if the proceedings were reduced to a farce in the presence of uniformed police and the ruckus in the House. You made no serious effort to prove your majority on the floor of the House. In the circumstances, it is incumbent upon you to demonstrate clearly and objectively on the Constitutionally ordained forum, the Assembly, that you have the majority in the House,” Mr Bhardwaj wrote.
“I find that after the motion was moved, the number of members of the Legislative Assembly supporting your motion and against it has not been recorded. As a matter of fact, numbers of members present and voting ‘Ayes’ and ‘Nos’ have not been recorded,” he noted.