BJP Core Committee to chart out plans against Governor

Bangalore, Jan 21 (PTI) Peeved over an innuendo hurled atit by Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj, the ruling BJP isholding a meeting of its Core Committee and State levelexecutive today to chart out its future course of plans totake on him in a snowballing confrontation.

The sparring between the Governor and the Government tookto an ugly turn yesterday after Bhardwaj courted a controversylikening the cabinet resolution asking him to drop proceedingsfor prosecution of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to a thieftaking police to task.

The BJP Central Leadership rushed its General SecretaryDharmendra Pradhan, who is also in-charge of party affairs inKarnataka, to the city today.

Pradhan held brief consultations with state unit leadersand took stock of the situation.

Sources in BJP said the Core Committee and the Executivewould be finalising the strategies to be adopted in thecampaign against the Governor.

Facing fresh attacks from Bhardwaj, an upset Yeddyurappalast night dashed off a letter to him, accusing him of makingbiased statements.

By referring to the cabinet''s resolution as "the thiefcomplaining to the police", the Governor had "lowered thedignity of the Chief Minister, the entire cabinet and therebythe voters", Yeddyurappa had said in the letter.

Yeddyurappa is also planning to meet the PresidentPratibha Patil on January 24 to complain against the Governorto demand his immediate recall.

Unfazed by the BJP''s threat of stir against him, Bhardwajhad said he would take a decision in two days on the complaintby a lawyers'' forum seeking permission to prosecuteYeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashoka on alleged land scamcharges.

The provocation for BJP came from Bharadwaj''s "Ulta ChorKotwal ko dante" remark that drew instant protest from rulingBJP which accused the Governor of having a prejudiced mindset.

An emergent meeting of the cabinet had Wednesday passedthe resolution asking the Governor to drop the proceedings toprosecute Yeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashok on a complaintwith him, saying such a move was nothing short of a "farce andcolourable" exercise on his part.

BJP also mounted a sharp attack on the Governor anddeputed an eight-member ministerial team to take him on. PTIMSR ARP RA