Seeking BSY govt's dismissal wasn't wrong, says Governor

Bhardwaj claims Centre advised him against it

Governor H R Bhardwaj said here on Tuesday that he stood by his decision to recommend twice the dismissal of the government led by B S Yeddyurappa, and claimed the Centre had advised him against it on both the occasions.

Interacting with reporters, Bhardwaj said he would soon put on record the circumstances that had led to his recommendation of President’s rule in the State: first in October 2010, then in May 2011. The interaction was organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and the Bangalore Reporters’ Guild.

The Governor said that he made the first recommendation when 16 MLAs wrote to him, saying they were withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa government thus reducing it to a minority. “The Speaker, instead of conducting a proper floor test, disqualified these MLAs. The Supreme Court later quashed his decision”, Bhardwaj said.

He also mentioned that on both the occasions, the Supreme Court judgment in the S R Bommai case, which gives primacy to floor test to prove the majority of the government, was rendered inoperative. “When the Legislature does not abide by the Supreme Court order, where should the Governor go,” he asked and asserted that the Centre did not go with him on both the occasions. Bhardwaj said he could not confront the Centre as he could be recalled.

‘Drop Reddys’

On his tumultuous relationship with Yeddyurappa, Bhardwaj said he had advised the former chief minister to drop the Reddy brothers — G Janardhana and G Karunakara Reddy — from the Cabinet, saying they were into illegal mining. “Instead of heeding my advice, the BJP government started attacking me,” he said, adding that he took on the government “in the interests of the State”.

“No one can throw stones at Raj Bhavan. The institution of Governor is vested with enormous powers”, he said. In the same breath, however, he described Yeddyurappa as a “good friend” and said he bore no ill will towards him.

‘Convenient Lokayukta’

The Governor accused the previous government of trying to “dilute” the institution of Lokayukta after Justice N Santhosh Hegde demitted office. “It wanted a convenient Lokayukta, not an independent Lokayukta,” he recalled. “I refused to clear a recommendation.”

On the appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Bhardwaj warned that polarisation of the society on communal lines would be harmful. Using the communal card was considered a corrupt practice by the Election Commission of India, he added.