The Home Minister P Chidambaram is learnt to have forwarded the report of Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with a note that it disagreed with this recommendation.
Earlier this week, Bhardwaj had sent a report to the Home Ministry claiming that the Speaker and the Chief Minister of Karnataka state — ruled by the BJP coalition — had acted unconstitutionally and therefore, the government must be dismissed. His report came after the Supreme Court struck down the disqualification of 16 MLAs who had switched side from the ruling coalition to the opposition several weeks ago.
BJP leader and chief minister BS Yeddyurappa had earlier said that the Home minister had assured him of not acting on the Governor’s recommendations. The report is now expected to get a quiet burial at the Prime Minister’s office.
The PM too had earlier assured a delegation of NDA leaders led by BJP leader LK Advani that he would not take any “unconstitutional step” in Karnataka.
Yeddyurappa is separately leading an agitation seeking the dismissal of the governor, even as Karnataka Congress leaders are in favor of the dismissal of the BJP government. The Governor had recommended the imposition of Governor’s rule in the state, leading to allegations that he was merely trying to usurp power from an elected government through the backdoor.