New Delhi:
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has met President Pratibha Patil and has paraded 122 MLAs before her to prove that he has the numbers in the Assembly.
Emerging from the meeting BJP president Nitin Gadkari said they had also requested the President to recall Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj. Mr Gadkari said Governor Bhardwaj's action was "unconstitutional". He pointed out that Mr Yeddyurappa "has support of 122 MLAs" in the 225-seat Assembly.
Mr Yeddyurappa said he had proved his majority to President Pratibha Patil.
The BJP, has kept up the pressure it has built over the last two days on Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj, with top leaders leaving no stone unturned to ensure that its only government in the South is saved.
Mr Bhardwaj had sent a report over the weekend reportedly recommending President's Rule in the state. The Centre, sources say, is inclined to reject Mr Bhardwaj's report.
First on Mr Yeddyurappa's agenda on Tuesday was a visit, he said, to party patriarch LK Advani's house "to take his blessings... Evening we will go and meet honorable President of India," he said. Mr Yeddyurappa arrived in Delhi late last night and met BJP president Nitin Gadkari and other senior party leaders.
Today, Mr Gadkari said his party's government had the support of 121 MLAs and so was not a minority government in Karnataka. "The Governor recommending President's rule is unconstitutional...We will win this fight in Karnataka, majority is with us," he said, adding that the, "Governor's office is being misused."
The BJP president also took a jibe at Mr Bhardwaj when he said, "Instead of Governor, he should work as special invitee of the AICC. He should come here and work for the party."
On Monday, leaders of the BJP-led NDA met the Prime Minister and, led by senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, demanded an immediate recall of the Governor. Mr. Advani also said the Governor's action was unconstitutional and should not be acted upon.
"Despite the fact that the Chief Minister said he wanted to convene the Assembly, the Governor did not. If the Chief Minister wants to convene the house, it cannot be denied," said Mr Advani. He also called the Supreme Court judgement a 'blessing in disguise' since the BJP now had a clearer majority in the 225-member Karnataka Assembly.
Mr. Advani also told reporters that, "The Prime Minister assured us that nothing unconstitutional will be done in Karnataka."
The Karnataka Assembly has 225 seats; without the 11 BJP 'rebel' MLAs, Mr Yeddyurappa will have 109 supporters, which is short of the half-way mark of 117. So their support is crucial for his government.