Karnataka Crisis: BSY Show of Strength in Delhi
posted on May 18, 2011 @ 1:28PM
The BJP, at New Delhi, yesterday demanded that the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, should recall the Governor, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj, for recommending President's Rule in Karnataka. A delegation of top BJP leaders along with the Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, and 116 Karnataka MLAs met the President and submitted a memorandum against Mr Bhardwaj. Mr Yeddyurappa also claimed he has 121 MLAs supporting him and that he can prove his majority "anytime and anywhere".
After their meeting with the President, the BJP president, Mr Nitin Gadkari, said since the President was the guardian of the Constitution, the party had decided to take up the issue with her. "We met the President and demanded that she give us protection. We asked her that no action should be taken on the report submitted by the Governor, who has recommended President's Rule in the state," Mr Gadkari said.
On the other hand, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj said that the Karnataka is in crisis and "imposition of the provisions of Article 356 (1) is necessary whenever there is breakdown of the constitutional mechanism in the state." He made a strategic move yesterday by disclosing contents of the special report sent to the Centre on Sunday. Interpreting the report in a communique, Mr Bhardwaj said the manipulation of numbers inside the Assembly to win the trust vote, amounted to a constitutional breakdown which was why he had recommended invoking Article 356(1).