New Delhi:
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is staring at another political crisis in the state after the Supreme Court delivered a verdict that grants new legitimacy to those within the BJP who have been demanding that a new Chief Minister be appointed to replace Mr Yeddyurappa.
In October last year, Mr Yeddyurappa had to prove 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, Mr Yeddyurappa just about survived his vote of confidence.
The Supreme Court has revoked their disqualification. They will be allowed to attend the Assembly starting Monday.
Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj has however, ruled out assembly session from Monday. Mr Bhardwaj today warned of immediate action against the Yeddyurappa government after he received the copy of the Supreme Court judgement. The warning came after he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and reportedly discussed future action against the BJP Chief Minister.
"Yesterday at 2:30, the court has given a judgement. I was expecting a copy by evening. I got the copy, I have read it. Now it's up to you people to read who is not obeying the constitution. There is a stricture against the Speaker and the Chief Minister's. I have to see the judgement and I have not at all stood in the way of any session and all this, these are basic things, which I know more than anybody else," Mr Bhardwaj said.
Meanwhile, Congress chief of Karnataka, G Parameshwarappa, today demanded the Chief Minister and the Speaker's resignation.
JD(S) leader and Yeddyurappa's bête noir HD Kumaraswamy also called for the Chief Minister's head. "I request the BJP High Command to dismiss Yeddyurappa and remove the Speaker from the post, because particularly, the role of the Speaker was criticised in the Supreme Court judgement...On the basis of yesterday's Supreme Court judgement, he (Speaker) has to take moral responsibility and he has to step down," said Mr Kumaraswamy.
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.
For nearly two years, factions within the BJP in Karnataka have asked the party's leaders in Delhi to select a new head for the state government. Mr Yeddyurappa faces a slew of corruption cases - in different land deals, he allegedly favoured his family members, allowing companies linked to them to acquire land that was meant to be used for public projects.
In October last year, Mr Yeddyurappa had to prove 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, Mr Yeddyurappa just about survived his vote of confidence.
The Supreme Court has revoked their disqualification. They will be allowed to attend the Assembly starting Monday.
Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj has however, ruled out assembly session from Monday. Mr Bhardwaj today warned of immediate action against the Yeddyurappa government after he received the copy of the Supreme Court judgement. The warning came after he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and reportedly discussed future action against the BJP Chief Minister.
"Yesterday at 2:30, the court has given a judgement. I was expecting a copy by evening. I got the copy, I have read it. Now it's up to you people to read who is not obeying the constitution. There is a stricture against the Speaker and the Chief Minister's. I have to see the judgement and I have not at all stood in the way of any session and all this, these are basic things, which I know more than anybody else," Mr Bhardwaj said.
Meanwhile, Congress chief of Karnataka, G Parameshwarappa, today demanded the Chief Minister and the Speaker's resignation.
JD(S) leader and Yeddyurappa's bête noir HD Kumaraswamy also called for the Chief Minister's head. "I request the BJP High Command to dismiss Yeddyurappa and remove the Speaker from the post, because particularly, the role of the Speaker was criticised in the Supreme Court judgement...On the basis of yesterday's Supreme Court judgement, he (Speaker) has to take moral responsibility and he has to step down," said Mr Kumaraswamy.
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.
For nearly two years, factions within the BJP in Karnataka have asked the party's leaders in Delhi to select a new head for the state government. Mr Yeddyurappa faces a slew of corruption cases - in different land deals, he allegedly favoured his family members, allowing companies linked to them to acquire land that was meant to be used for public projects.
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