A high-level delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party will call on President Pratibha Patil to impress upon her to advise Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to function as per the provisions of the Constitution and refrain from “politicking” in the day-to-day administration of the State.
Sources in the government and the ruling party told The Hindu that none of the leaders from the State will form part of the delegation.
Apart from their preoccupation with the panchayat elections, it has been decided as a matter of strategy that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, State BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa and State Special Representatives in New Delhi V. Dhananjay Kumar will keep out of the meeting. There is also a view that it should be conveyed to the President to consider a change of Governor for Karnataka.
The Chief Minister's Secretariat here said: “A detailed memorandum is being prepared here, and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, along with Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, will call on the President. It is time the attention of the President is drawn to the role of the Governor here.”
The differences between the Governor and the ruling BJP, in general, and Mr. Yeddyurappa, in particular, have again come to the fore after Mr. Bhardwaj wrote two letters to the Chief Minister seeking details on the land scams reportedly involving him and his relatives. In another letter, the Governor sought details of the business deals of the Bellary Ministers. Mr. Bhardwaj had written in detail to Mr. Yeddyurappa, based on representations he received in February and in July on the business interests of the Bellary Ministers. About a week ago, Mr. Bhardwaj sought details on the land scams and the mining issue.
While Mr. Yeddyurappa reportedly refrained from replying to an earlier letter, a reply was provided on this occasion. The Chief Minister said the land scam allegations were baseless and politically-motivated. The Governor expressed his displeasure at the Chief Minister's reply, and said accusations against him, of being an agent of the Congress, would not deter him from performing his duty. Mr. Bhardwaj said he was upset with Mr. Yeddyurappa's reply and would take appropriate action.
Article 167(b) of the Constitution says: “It shall be the duty of the Chief Minister to furnish information relating to the administration of the State as the Governor may call for.” Mr. Yeddyurappa's reply in the latest instance is being viewed as a violation of the constitutional provisions since details of the land have not been provided.
