Karnataka headed for President’s rule?

Karnataka on Monday appears headed for President’s rule with the State Governor is believed to have recommended such a step after Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa won a controversial confidence vote in the Assembly following disqualification of 16 MLAs.

Governor H.R. Bhardwaj is believed to have sent his report to the Centre calling the events and the vote in the Assembly as “unconstitutional” and “farce” and that the State should be brought under President’s rule.

He is understood to have noted that Speaker K.G. Bopaiah’s action in disqualifying 16 MLAs — 11 of BJP and 5 Independents — was unconstitutional and had vitiated the proceedings.

The Union Cabinet is likely to meet and consider the Governor’s report. The Union Home Ministry has expressed concern over developments in Karnataka, especially the “abuse” of the anti-defection law by the Speaker.

Home Ministry sources said there was no question of disqualifying Independents under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution or for that matter the dissident BJP MLAs even before the vote.

On a dramatic day of developments, the Speaker’s decision to disqualify the dissident MLAs and ban their entry into the House came early in the morning in an apparent move to bring down the number required for the ruling party to prove its majority.

Amid scenes of pandemonium, Mr. Yeddyurappa moved the confidence vote and “won” the trial of strength as high drama marked the proceedings when Speaker Bopaiah declared the motion of confidence passed by a voice vote.