Bangalore:
Leaders of the BJP-led NDA met the Prime Minister this evening and discussed the political crisis in Karnataka where the Governor has recommended President's Rule. The BJP has described this move as "a murder of democracy."
Led by senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, the BJP demanded an immediate recall of the Governor, H R Bhardwaj. 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 has 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."
Sources in the government say that the cabinet is not in a rush to discuss the Governor's contentious report.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa also reached Delhi today and is accompanied by close to 121 MLAs to prove that he enjoys a firm majority in the Assembly. That's in contrast to Governor HR Bhardwaj's suggestion in a report to the cabinet that there's been a constitutional breakdown in the state.
Mr Yeddyurappa and his MLAs have also been given time tomorrow evening for meeting the President where they are expected to parade their strength.
The BJP is demanding Governor Bhardwaj's recall for failing to act with neutrality. In Karnataka, it is in emergency mode with a series of meetings followed by a protest march to the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Mahatma Gandhi Road.
BJP leaders point out that Mr Bhardwaj also met with the Prime Minister last night before returning to Bangalore. The report is "entirely motivated... and against all constitutional norms," said BJP leader Arun Jaitley. "The Governor before leaving for the state had met the Prime Minister, so what the role of the PM is in this proposed unconstitutionality... we will closely watch," he added. "The BJP will not take this lying down," he warned.
(Watch - BJP won't take Governor's action lying down: Jaitley) Mr Bhardwaj's suggestion for President's Rule is based on the Supreme Court which, on Friday, said that 16 MLAs were disqualified incorrectly by the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly ahead of a crucial vote of confidence that Mr Yeddyurappa narrowly survived. The Supreme Court was direct in its criticism of that gesture. "There was no compulsion on the Speaker to decide the disqualification application filed by Mr Yeddyurappa in such a great hurry within the time specified by the Governor to conduct a vote of confidence in the government headed by Mr. Yeddyurappa...the element of hot haste is also evident in the action of the Speaker."
(Read: The Supreme Court remarks that triggered the crisis) The 16 MLAs include 11 from the BJP and five independents who had supported the government but in October said they would not support the Chief Minister during his trust vote. They were disqualified by the Speaker under anti-defection laws. Ten of the 11 BJP MLAs have made it clear this weekend that they will back their party.
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.
The new crisis extends the continuum of confrontation between Mr Bhardwaj and the BJP in Karnataka, which has repeatedly accused him of acting as an agent of the Congress. Mr Yeddyurappa says that last evening, 10 of the 11 BJP MLAs who've been reinstated by the Supreme Court tried to meet Mr Bhardwaj to clarify that they support him, but were refused an audience with the Governor. The Chief Minister states that he has 121 MLAs who support him.
The BJP has been asking that the Assembly be convened so that Mr Yeddyurappa can prove his majority - a request so far ignored by the Governor. "As a former Law Minister, the Governor should know procedures, said Mr Yeddyurappa, adding, "He should have said, 'Before the session, you prove your majority on floor of the House'."
(
With PTI inputs)