BJP strongly backs Yeddyurappa, hails his governance

New Delhi, May 17: Demanding the immediate recall of Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj, BJP today (May 16) strongly backed the leadership of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa hailing his "good governance" in the presence of party MLAs.

Addressing 114 MLAs from Karnataka, who arrived here last night for a parade of strength before President Pratibha Patil today, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said the party would emerge "101 per cent" victorious in the battle over Bhardwaj's recommendation for imposition of President's rule in the state.

"101 per cent we will be victorious.... We are a majority government, a popular government...We will definitely win as we are going through the democratic process," he told the MLAs here.

"Karnataka is the first state to present a budget for agriculture (Kisan budget)," Gadkari said.

He also gave credit to Yeddyurappa and Karnataka BJP unit president K S Eshwarappa for the party's win in three by-elections held recently.

Party general secretary in-charge of the state Dharmendra Pradhan said five more MLAs have given letters of support. While one MLA was travelling abroad, another is recuperating after undergoing heart surgery.

"We have the support of 121 MLAs plus the Speaker," Pradhan said.

The MLAs will be paraded before Patil later in the day to prove that BJP has the numbers in the 224-member Assembly.

Gadkari also criticised Governor H R Bhardwaj for acting in an "unconstitutional, undemocratic manner" by not heeding to the advice of the Council of Ministers to convene a special session of the Assembly.

"The Governor is a very experienced politician. Sonia Gandhi will benefit immensely by his services. She should make him a special invitee to the AICC. If he is invited here (to the Centre) it would be good. His inclination is towards party politics," Gadkari said.

He charged that some of the union cabinet ministers and Congress leaders were supporting Bhardwaj's actions.

"Congress leaders and some of the Central cabinet ministers have realised that they cannot defeat us (BJP) in Karnataka even in the distant future. More so after our win in the by-elections. So they want to destabilise the government," Gadkari said.

He insisted that after the Bommai judgement by the Supreme Court, the majority of a government has to be proved on the floor of the House and not in the "home of the Governor".

PTI