I feel vindicated, says Yeddyurappa

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Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said he felt “vindicated” after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a late night decision rejected state Governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s report recommending the dismissal of his government and the imposition of President’s rule, hours before he emplaned for an India-Africa summit.

“I am extremely happy that Prime Minister took the decision,” a combative Mr Yeddyurappa said. “We feel vindicated,” he said, adding that in the light of the Prime Minister’s announcement, the party intends to continue to push for the removal of the Governor.

Sources close to the chief minister said there was speculation Mr Bhardwaj could be recalled shortly and that one of the Congressmen in contention for the post was former AP chief minister K. Rosaiah, but they had no official word as yet.

“I have said right from the beginning that the Governor’s advise was not based on fact. I knew it could not get accepted by the government as it had no legal basis. It would have been unconstitutional. If the Centre had dismissed me, it would have been unconstitutional. It would have been motivated purely by a desire to remove me from office,” the chief minister told this newspaper on Monday, shortly before he was to meet the party chief Mr Nitin Gadkari and other leaders Mr Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj.

“I have the full support of the party, they have backed me fully,” the chief minister said, adding that the general consensus in the party was that the entry of Janata Dal (S) supremo had complicated matters and may have contributed to the delay in the Prime Minister taking a decision sooner.

With local Congressmen also appealing to the top echelons of the Congress, “we knew there would be a delay, but I was confident they could not dismiss me,” Mr Yeddyurappa said.

“We have a majority. I have the people’s mandate, and I have won every election. How can I be dismissed, on what grounds, “ he asked, adding that “the Governor now has no choice but to allow me to convene an Assembly session.”

The chief minister said they were still waiting to see what the Union home minister’s advisory note had to say.