Bangalore:
The battle between the Chief Minister and Governor of Karnataka - public at the best of times - has scaled up.
The BJP Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa wants a formal apology from the governor for a recent remark that compared Mr Yeddyurappa and his cabinet to "a thief." HR Bhardwaj, the Governor, hasn't obliged. Instead, he's sent a stern email as his response. (
Read: Governor's letter to Yeddyurappa)
Earlier this week, the Cabinet asked the Governor not to sanction the prosecution of the Chief Minister requested by a group of lawyers, who want to formally take up allegations of corruption against Mr Yeddyurappa. The Governor said the request by the cabinet was like a thief requesting the police to not take action against him.
The Chief Minister told NDTV he expects a public apology. But Mr Bhardwaj wrote back stressing that he is entitled to make an independent assessment and decision on whether the chief minister merits prosecution. The governor has also said the cabinet's request "simply required him to put a lid on the serious allegations of corruption."
Mr Yeddyurappa also insists that under pressure from the Centre, the Governor has repeatedly asked him to dissolve the Assembly.
The BJP has over the last year has accused Mr Bhardwaj of acting like "a Congress agent." Mr Bhardwaj has earlier served as the country's Law Minister.
Late last year, Mr Bhardwaj turned Mr Yeddyurappa into the first Chief Minister in the country to face two trust votes in just four days. The Governor insisted that the first vote - narrowly won by the BJP - was not sufficient. The BJP had protested against this.