In the midst of a sudden initiative by the estranged JD(S) and BJP partners to form a BJP-led government in Karnataka, the Centre on Saturday appointed three advisors to the State Governor Rameshwar Thakur.

The appointments that have come almost three weeks after the State was brought under the President’s rule were being interpreted in political circles in the capital as a strong indication of the Centre’s dim assessment about the prospects for formation of a stable government in the State in the present political circumstances.

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief and Kerala DGP P K Hormese Tharakan, retired Karnataka IAS officer P P Prabhu and another retired Karnataka cadre IAS officer S Krishna Kumar are the three advisors to the Governor for the President’s rule dispensation.

According to sources, the Centre intimated to the three officers in writing about their appointment as advisors early this afternoon. All of them are expected to report to Governor Thakur on Sunday.

Tharakan, who was to leave for Kerala, has changed his plans in view of his new assignment in Karnataka. A 1968 batch IPS officer, Tharakan recently retired as RAW Secretary after serving in the position for almost two-and-a-half years. He was Kerala DGP before his appointment to the top RAW post in February, 2005.

Prabhu, a 1964 batch of Karnataka cadre IAS officer, had served in several key positions both in Karnataka and at the Centre, including Chairman and Managing Director, Vikrant Tyres, Managing Director, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Managing Director, Karnataka Power Corporation, Principal Secretary to the then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, Director, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industry and the Department of Small Scale Industry. He retired as commerce secretary.

Kumar was a 1969 batch of IAS officer of Karnataka cadre. He served as Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary in the state government. He was the first secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs when it was created in 2004. He retired in February 2006.