Facilitate govt formation in K8217;taka, BJP tells PM

Mounting pressure on the Centre for revocation of Prez rule, a high-level BJP delegation asked the PM to take immediate steps.

Mounting pressure on the Centre for revocation of President8217;s rule in Karnataka, a high-level BJP delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday and demanded that immediate steps be taken to ensure formation of a government in the state.

Led by senior leader L K Advani and party chief Rajnath Singh, the delegation of BJP MPs told Singh that four days have passed since the BJP-JD-S combine staked claim for formation of government but Governor Rameshwar Thakur has not yet recommended the revocation of President8217;s rule.

BJP leaders also brought to Singh8217;s notice Congress8217; demand for the dissolution of the Assembly and contended that the BJP-JD-S combine has got the support of 129 MLAs in the 224 member House.

The Prime Minister assured the delegation that the Centre will go 8220;by the spirit of the Constitution but did not give any specific timeframe8221; regarding lifting of President8217;s rule in the state, BJP Vice President Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the 30-minute-long meeting at Singh8217;s residence.

8220;The Prime Minister suggested that Governor should be given reasonable time. But we told him that four days have passed since we handed over the letter staking formation of government headed by B S Yeddiyurappa,8221; Naidu said.

BJP leaders drew the Prime Minister8217;s attention to a Supreme Court observation in connection with dissolution of Bihar Assembly earlier that shifting stands of political parties cannot be the ground for the dissolution of the Assembly.

JD-S and BJP were running a coalition government in the state till October 7 when they parted ways after the former refused to transfer Chief Ministership to the saffron party.

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The two parties fell apart as JD-S refused to hand over Chief Ministership after 20 months as per a power-sharing agreement with BJP. The saffron party then withdrew support leading to imposition of President8217;s Rule.

The political drama in the state saw another twist last Saturday, when JD-S dramatically decided to extend support to the BJP after Congress arrived at an arrangement with JD-S leader M P Prakash to form a government.

During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Rajnath Singh drew his attention to the developments in Jharkhand earlier, when independent MLA Madhu Koda was sworn in as Chief Minister with the support of Congress after the fall of BJP government.

Rajnath told Singh that he should ensure that such a situation would not be repeated in Karnataka, Naidu said apparently referring to the JD-S rebel M P Prakash8217;s recent attempts to form a government with Congress support.

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8220;We briefed the Prime Minister about our apprehension of negating the mandate of the people in Karnataka and urged him to recommend immediate revocation of President8217;s rule in the state,8221; Naidu, who was part of the delegation, which also included Karnataka leaders Yeddiyurappa and Anant Kumar, said.

8220;The objective of placing an Assembly under suspended animation inter alia is to explore the possibility of formation of a popular government so that the Assembly may ordinarily complete its five year tenure,8221; the leaders pointed out in a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister.

Observing that the 8220;current delay8221; in revocation of the President8217;s rule is 8220;disturbing8221;, the memorandum said Congress has already demanded dissolution of the Assembly and imposition of President8217;s rule bypassing the support of the majority.

8220;Such an action will be clearly unconstitutional8230;we are therefore constrained to approach you to ensure compliance of Constitutional provisions and urge you to take immediate steps to ensure formation of a majority and popular government in the state,8221; leaders told the Prime Minister.