Governor to Yeddyurappa: Show majority on Oct 14

Bangalore: As all eyes are on the High Court, which shall hear a plea on the disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs by the Karnataka Speaker, the state Governor HR Bhardwaj has written to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa asking him to show majority on the floor of the Assembly by 11 am on Thursday, October 14. (Read: Speaker disqualifies 16 rebel MLAs)

In his letter, Bhardwaj said the trust vote on Monday was improper and that the BJP government had failed to prove majority. The Governor said he was ready to give Yeddyurappa one more chance to demonstrate his majority in Assembly.

Later, Bhardwaj addressed the press to explain his position, saying again that the Yuddyurappa government had failed to demonstrate a clear majority: " I found the responsibility on him as CM ... In a matter like this, majority has to be clear...Voice vote does not mean anything in the circumstances."

The Governor pointed out that there was no record furnished of how many people had voted in the trust vote, how many for and how many against. "Going through the proceedings ... no ayes or nays has been recorded." Instead, he said, the "police etc vitiated the whole process."

Bhardwaj said, "I had fixed the floor test at 12, he (Yeddyurappa) said 10. I agreed. He assured me floor test would be objected...It is their own MLAs and ministers of the BJP that he dismissed them. I accepted his advice."

Bhardwaj said he had written to Yeddyurappa asking him if he was "prepared to meet constitutional experts."

Fed up of corruption: Bhardwaj

The BJP has accused Bhardwaj of being partisan, and the Governor sought to make clear on Tuesday that there was, "No bias as far as I am concerned...I have cooperated with the government in all matters in my one and a half years, rejected all grievances".

"I am fed up with this kind of corruption," he added in strong words.

After the trust vote on Monday, the Karnataka Governor had, in a report to the Centre, described the vote as "a farce" and recommended President's Rule. Bhardwaj said he had looked into proceedings and sent the report after looking into records.

The Governor's letter to Yeddyurappa today is being seen as one to ease pressure on the Centre before a meeting of the Union Cabinet this evening. The meeting is likely to discuss the Karnataka crisis, including the Governor's report recommending President's Rule in the state.

However, sources tell NDTV that the Centre is unlikely to push for President's Rule. What it would prefer is another floor test, and the Governor's letter bolsters that.

Karnataka High Court to hear  plea

The next crucial turn in the Karnataka political crisis could be decided on Tuesday, the High Court is expected to give its verdict on the disqualification of 16 MLAs - 11 of them are BJP rebels and 5 are independents - by Speaker KG Bopaiah. (Read: Karnataka High Court to decide rebel MLAs' fate)

They were disqualified hours before the controversial trust vote won by the BS Yeddyurappa government in the Assembly.

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu, who was in Bangalore to firefight during the crisis, has said that the BJP is in the majority and that the drama was scripted by the Congress in Delhi. (Watch)

"The current strength of Karnataka House is 204, we are 106 so we are in majority. Bashing up the marshal was done by JD(S) yesterday. The whole drama was scripted in Delhi by Congress," said Venkaiah Naidu.

The BJP has brought its counter offensive to New Delhi, it will parade its 105 MLAs before President Pratibha Patil. BJP president Nitin Gadkari will chair a meeting of top leaders at LK Advani's residence on Tuesday. (Read: Karnataka crisis: BJP to parade MLAs in Delhi before President)

After the Yeddyurappa government won the trust vote on Monday amid bedlam, the Karnataka Governor, HR Bhardwaj, had, in a report to the Centre, described the vote as "a farce" and recommended President's rule. Then Law Minister Veerappa Moily weighed in, stating on NDTV that the BJP government in Karnataka was in a minority and that "fear psychosis had been created in the Assembly." Read: Law Minister backs Governor) | (Read: Karnataka crisis: Governor steps in, sends advisory to Speaker)

"I am very, very happy - today we have got absolute majority - we have proved in the House. And Opposition parties they are very much disappointed - that is why they created the problem inside the House," said Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. (Read: Chief Minister Yeddyurappa's BJP govt wins trust vote) | (Money used to power revolt, says Yeddyurappa)

But the Opposition - mainly the Congress and the JD(S) - say it was the BJP that caused the chaos on Monday morning, ensuring that the voice vote that confirmed Yeddyurappa's majority was deceptive. (Read: Undemocratic vote, will appeal to Governor, says Congress)

Monday drama

Early on Monday morning, the Speaker of the Assembly, KG Bopaiah, disqualified 11 rebel BJP MLAs and five independent MLAs, citing anti-defection laws. The overall strength of the House was reduced to 208. The BJP had to get 105 votes to continue in power. (Read: Speaker disqualifies 16 rebel MLAs)

Immediately after the voice vote that confirmed Yeddyurappa's majority, Opposition MLAs met the Governor to protest against the vote, and to demand that the BJP government be sacked.

A recent Cabinet reshuffle which left many BJP MLAs disgruntled provided the tipping point.
 
But beyond the political polemics, what will be examined closely now is whether the Speaker's decision to disqualify the rebel MLAs before the vote was legal.

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