Zilla and TP polls should be held as per law: Bhardwaj

"I cannot pass the second ordinance even if it is presented to me again as it is against the Supreme Court order," Bhardwaj, often at odds with the ruling BJP, said on the sidelines of a function.

"I cannot go against the constitution. Zilla and Taluk panchayat elections should be held in accordance with law". Bhardwaj was responding to a query on his rejecting the second ordinance proposed by the government to omit portions relating to ceiling of 50 per cent on reservations in panchayats, which was provided for in the first ordinance.

The government had proposed an ordinance applying a ceiling of 50 per cent on reservations in panchayats in favour of SC/ST/OBCs, which was approved by the Governor and promulgated on October 4.

This was in accordance with the Apex Court order, passed in May, which held that upper ceiling of 50 per cent vertical reservations in favour of SC/ST/OBCs should not be breached in the context of local self-government.

On November 10, the government proposed another ordinance to omit portions relating to 50 per cent ceiling on reservation in panchayats on the ground that imposing ceiling had resulted in significant reduction in the seats reserved for Backward Classes which went against the policy of the government to empower the weaker sections.

Bhardwaj had said he deemed it a "fit case" for the government to discuss the issue of Karnataka Panchayat Raj amendment on the floor of the Legislature.