Bangalore:
In what could further deepen the political crisis in Karnataka, Governor H R Bhardwaj on Sunday recommended the imposition of President's rule in the state.
Mr Bhardwaj, in a special report sent to the President, said that there was a complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state. He also mentioned that there was rampant corruption in the state.
The Governor further said that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the Speaker, K G Bopaiah, had manipulated the constitutional provisions during the trust vote in October last year. Hence, the support of the eleven rebel BJP MLAs was irrelevant now.
He also recommended putting the Assembly in suspended animation.
The latest move is bound to further escalate tensions between the Governor and Mr Yeddyurappa and his party, the BJP.
Reacting to the recommendation, the chief minister, in a press conference convened soon after, hit back at the Opposition accusing it of misusing the Governor's office.
Claiming that he had the required majority, Mr Yeddyurappa shot off a letter to the President and the Prime Minister demanding the convening of the Assembly session on Monday. (
Watch: Want House session on Monday, says Yeddyurappa)
Meanwhile, senior party leader Arun Jaitley told reporters in Delhi that the BJP government enjoyed the majority in the Karnataka Assembly and has the support of at least 121 MLAs in the 224-member House with the return of the 11 party rebels. (
Watch: BJP won't take Governor's action lying down, says Jaitley)
Earlier in the day, Mr Bhardwaj had refused to meet the eleven dissident MLAs who had gone to the Raj Bhavan to hand over fresh letters of support for the Yeddyurappa government.
He made them wait outside the gates and instead, met BJP's representatives.
Asked whether he would direct the Yeddyurappa-led BJP government to go for a floor test, the Governor had said, "Floor tests have not helped Karnataka. It was destroyed by manipulation...I have to seek comments,"
He further questioned the legitimacy of the rebels' support and said, "I have to decide on their demands but they can't play smart with me."
The eleven rebel BJP MLAs - who until yesterday seemed set to pull the plug on the government - did a major turnaround on Sunday by pledging their allegiance to the beleaguered chief minister.
(Read: BJP wins over 11 rebel MLAs)"Yeddyurappa is doing good work...there is no question of change in leadership", said rebel MLA Sarvabhouma Bagali.
In October last year, Yeddyurappa had to prove that his government had not been reduced to a minority. The BJP was besieged by internal dissent and a group of MLAs wanted to vote against Mr Yeddyurappa. Ahead of the trust vote, the Speaker of the Assembly disqualified 16 MLAs - 11 from the BJP and five independents - under anti-defection laws. With their removal, Yeddyurappa just about survived his vote of confidence.
The Supreme Court on May 13 revoked their disqualification. The 16 MLAs had appealed to the Karnataka High Court against the Speaker's decision. When they lost their case, they brought their complaint to the Supreme Court. (
Read: Supreme Court's stern remarks against Speaker, Chief Minister)