Legal aides cautioned the ruling party against doing anything that would strengthen the governor's argument. The consequences would be serious if the protest opposite Raj Bhavan turned ugly, they warned.
The confrontation between the BJP government and governor HR Bhardwaj is compelling the ruling party to derive new strategies in order to convert the challenge into a political advantage. As the tactics changed by the minute, the party even changed the venue for its protest originally scheduled to be held in front of the Raj Bhavan to Gandhi statue on MG Road.
As the cabinet committee on political affairs of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government met in the morning to take stock of Bhardwaj’s report recommending president’s rule, the BJP leadership was advised by its legal aides not to do anything that would strengthen the governor’s argument that the state government had subverted the democratic institutions. It was pointed out that the consequences would be serious if the proposed protest opposite Raj Bhavan turns ugly.
The BJP leadership immediately swung into action by changing the venue of the protest to Gandhi statue on MG Road. However, they went a step ahead in ensuring a better mileage for the party by deciding to take out a protest march from a star hotel on Raj Bhavan Road to Gandhi statue.
Lead by BJP state president KS Eshwarappa, national leader Venkaiah Naidu, several ministers and party legislators hit the road under the scorching sun to reach the venue. Hundreds of party workers along with leaders held a dharna for an hour.
Addressing the protesters, Eshwarappa launched a tirade against Bhardwaj. He accused the governor of nursing cheap political ambition of ruling the state without bothering to get the people’s mandate.
“Bhardwaj is acting like a power hungry Congressman and trying to subvert the people’s mandate bestowed on the BJP government which has the support of 120 MLAs in the 224 member state assembly. He is acting like a dictator by throwing democratic principles to the winds and recommending for imposition of president’s rule,” he said.
Eshwarappa termed Bharadwaj’s act as an insult to the people of Karnataka and said BJP would launch a nation-wide agitation to oust the governor. He demanded the Centre to recall Bhardwaj immediately.
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