Yeddyurappa shows numbers, Guv blows lid off report

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In a bid to force the hand of the Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs ahead of its meeting on Wednesday, where a decision on the dismissal of the B.S. Yeddyurappa government is again expected to be kept in abeyance, beleaguered Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Tuesday night went public with the contents of his Sunday report.

In admitting that he had indeed recommended dismissal of the Karnataka government under the provisions of Article 356 (1), analysts said that he was trying to force the Centre’s hand to act on his recommendations.

In Tuesday’s letter Mr Bhardwaj said he recommended invoking the provisions of article 356 (1) as the manipulation of numbers inside the legislative assembly to win the trust vote amounted to constitutional breakdown.

Sources in the Congress party whose activists brought Bengaluru to a standstill with a series of protests on Tuesday revealed that when a Union minister telephoned Mr Bhardwaj from Delhi on Tuesday, the Governor reportedly said, “Your silence is an embarrassment for me,” adding to growing speculation of Mr Bhardwaj’s isolation within the top echelons of the Congress party, who are unwilling to be seen backing any move that is unconstitutional, as it could set off a sympathy wave for a chief minister who enjoys the support of 121 MLAs as opposed to 97 of the combined Congress- JD(S) opposition.

Many said it was frustration that triggered his move to go public after his report was kept secret for two days.

RED LETTER

An impression is being created that despite the government enjoying the support of the majority of the members of the Assembly, the Governor submitted the report for invoking the provisions of Article 356 (1) of the Constitution on the ground that the government lost the majority.

This is completely baseless. The intervention of Article 356 (1) of the Constitution is called for whenever there is a breakdown of constitutional mechanism — Raj Bhavan

Some birthday!

The Governor, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday was taking no chances, releasing the report soon after lengthy confabulations with former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda and opposition leader, Siddaramaiah, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar and senior leader, C.K. Jaffer Sharief.

*The Governor and the Chief Minister to meet over tea and some acrimony at 11 am today.

*Protests by both the BJP and the Congress brought the city to a complete halt on Tuesday.