Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has left for New Delhi for what has been described as a “consultation” with the party high command even as a team of senior State Congress leaders returned to Bangalore after a three-day stay in the capital, during which they urged the party leadership to approve Governor H.R. Bhardwaj's report recommending President's Rule in the State.
A decision on the report is expected to be announced on Monday.
Sources in the State government told The Hindu that the Chief Minister will meet, among others, party president Nitin Gadkari on Monday.
However, it is not clear why the Chief Minister has rushed to the capital.
After a tour of Dakshin Kannada district on Sunday, Mr. Yeddyurappa returned to Bangalore and in about an hour left for New Delhi leading to speculation.
It is widely believed here that the Union government will give a reply on the Governor's recommendation after the departure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a foreign tour.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said: “I am confident that the recommendation for President's Rule will be turned down. My government enjoys a comfortable majority and where is the need to disturb it merely because of the Governor's report. I am confident that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister will not do anything unconstitutional.”
This assurance has also been reportedly given to BJP veteran L.K.Advani.
The Chief Minister also made it clear that there is no question of any change of Speaker K.G. Bopaiah who passed the orders on the disqualification of 16 legislators, including 11 of the BJP, which has since been set aside by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said a full Bench of the Karnataka High Court had also concurred with the Speaker's action and “where is the need to change him.”
While the Speaker can resign, it is a difficult task to remove a Speaker given the fact that the ruling party enjoys a comfortable majority.
In a flux
Given the delay in the Centre's response, the political situation in the State has been in a flux over the past week with the Chief Minister and several of the senior Ministers exuding confidence that the Governor's recommendation will be spiked and the Congress leaders confident that the Union government will opt for dissolution of the Assembly. .
The Governor has made it clear that only after the Centre's reply will he take a decision on convening a session of the Legislature as sought by Mr. Yeddyurappa.
