Kumaraswamy refutes allegation of keeping the Governor in dark

Bangalore, Feb 23 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today strongly denied the allegation that the government had kept in dark Governor T N Chaturvedi on the controversial issue of holding elections to the state Legislative Council Chairman post, lying vacant for the last nine months.

Reacting to a letter addressed to the Legislative Council Members and sent to the Council Secretary in which the Governor had taken strong exception to not communicating his message to the members and the Presiding officer due to the abrupt adjournment of the House, Mr Kumaraswamy said he would meet Mr Chaturvedi to clarify the issue The Chief Minister said the Governor had sent the letter to the Council Secretary. The contents of the letter were leaked to the press and to the Opposition parties before it was communicated to the Council, he added.

Mr Kumaraswamy said ''There is no question of showing disrespect to the office of the Governor.'' Earlier the Governor, while directing the Council Secretary to take suitable steps to hold the elections to the post of Chairman lying vacant for the last nine months, had sent a message under Article 175(2) of the Constitution. Under the Rule 25, the message should have been communicated to the Members.

However, officiating Chairman of the House N Thippanna had abruptly adjourned the House till March 16, a day ahead of the schedule.

UNI