“We are mindful of the legal position. The power to impose president's rule is a very restricted power. And we think that the facts placed before CCPA (Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs) did not enable us to reach conclusion that the condition of (article) 356 (of the constitution) are attracted,” Chidambaram told reporters here.
The CCPA on Sunday rejected Bhardwaj's report recommending president's rule in the state.
The government was also “mindful” of a Supreme Court decision on the issue, Chidambaram said.
Bhardwaj had recommended president's rule in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling reversing the Karnataka High Court's decision of disqualifying 11 BJP rebel legislators and five Independents ahead of a trust vote in the assembly last October.
The BJP, earlier this month, paraded its 114 Karanataka legislators before President Pratibha Patil in a bid to prove its majority in the state assembly. The party also gave letters of support of some more legislators.
The BJP has, including the 11 rebels-turned-loyalists, 120 members in the 225-member assembly.
Chidambaram added that there was no question of removing Bhardwaj from his post.
"There is no question of recalling the governor. The governor performed his duty. And we took our decision,” he said.