Guv bent on allowing prosecution, says Yeddy

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is understood to have told his Cabinet colleagues that the Governor was bent up on granting permission to two lawyers to prosecute him.

Yeddyurappa’s announcement came as a bolt out of the blue for many of his colleagues. The chief minister told his ministers that the Governor indicated his decision during a meeting with him on December 31.

The chief minister is understood to have told his colleagues that the Governor would announce his decision after Republic Day.

Sources said that many ministers advised the Chief Minister to pass a resolution seeking the Governor’s recall. But Yeddyurappa learnt to have said that such a move was unwarranted at this juncture.

Protests

With the party high command backing the Chief Minister over the prosecution issue, the State BJP has decided to launch a series of protests against the Governor in coming days.
The party MPs from the State will complain about the Governor to the President on January 24, the party MLAs and MLCs will stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan the next day. Protests will also be organised in all district headquarters, the party sources said.

If the Governor gives his consent to prosecute the chief minister, the party will give a call for Karnataka bundh on January 27.

The plan, sources said, was discussed in the emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Yeddyurappa on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister is learnt to have explained the party high command’s stand on the issue and the party’s strategy to counter the Governor’s move.