Governor HR Bhardwaj’s decision to reject the nomination of former minister V Somanna to the legislative council has raised questions about the propriety of such gubernatorial action. The man at the eye of this storm, Somanna, tells DNA that this is an instance of the Raj Bhavan getting drawn into cheap politics.
How did you react to the news that your nomination to the legislative council had been turned down by the governor?
I have high regard for the governor. However, I am just not convinced by the reasons he has offered for the rejection of my nomination. He has stated that I am a career politician and a defector, and those were the grounds for the rejection of my nomination. But the constitution does not bar defectors from the council. And when there is no constitutional provision that goes against my nomination, how can the governor act thus?
If defectors should not be nominated to the legislative council, then what about former leader of the opposition in the legislative council, VS Ugrappa, who is a party hopper? And if the governor wants to know what my area of social service is, whether I have expertise in any field, then I would like to ask him the areas of expertise of Mallajamma, Prakash Rathod or Bheemanna Khandre of the Congress, who were all nominated.
The governor has explained that you had been rejected by the people in recent by-elections. What do you think of that explanation?
Shivraj Patil was nominated to the Rajya Sabha after he was defeated in the Lok Sabha polls. Pramod Mahajan too enjoyed the same honour. What precisely is the basis of the governor’s action? He should act constitutionally, not indulge in political vendetta, especially over such a silly matter as membership of the legislative council.
What do you think is the real reason for the governor’s action?
This is cheap politics. governor HR Bhardwaj acted on the demand of Congress leaders. The file regarding my nomination was sent to the Raj Bhavan at 1 pm on Wednesday. Within an hour of that, a Congress delegation met the governor, and it must be on the urging of that delegation that the governor decided toreject my nomination. Congress leaders are jittery. They have reason to fear me, for they know that my active role ahead of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike elections will leave the hands of the chief minister even stronger. The people of Bangalore regard me a hard worker. The Congress leaders know that my active role ahead of the BBMP polls will only further strengthen chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s hands.
What is the road ahead for you?
My party will decide whether I should be re-nominated in the next three to four days. I am a man with self respect, committed to the principles of Basavanna. I will continue social work, nominated or not.
k_hemanth@dnaindia.net
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