The Hindu reported that the notice of Governor Mr HR Bhardwaj to the Bellary ministers, iron ore barons with business interests in several States including Karnataka is taking a political turn much to the concern of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which will be completing 2 years in office in another fortnight.

It is evident that the BJP is a divided house with Mr BS Yeddyurappa CM of Karnataka keen on avoiding a friction with the Governor while those with the Bellary Minister's are keen on taking the Governor to task for the notice served by the Raj Bhavan to the Ministers.

The Congress and the Janata Dal which are ranged against the BJP, are up in arms against the criticism being levelled against the Governor for serving a notice on the Bellary Ministers to appear before him in person or through counsel to reply to the charges leveled by Congress MLC Mr KC Kondaiah, who has complained that the Ministers were misusing their official position to promote their business interests. The former Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Mr VS Ugrappa has also filed an independent complaint to the Governor.

The demand is that the Ministers should not merely be removed from the Cabinet but also be disqualified from the membership of the Legislative Assembly. The charges made against them relate to subsisting contract even though they are a part of the Government abuse of office for reaping profits and violation of the oath of office.

Sources close to the Bellary Ministers said that the Governor's office did not constitute a court and, accordingly, he had exceeded his jurisdiction by sending them a show cause notice. The Ministers concerned are not guilty of the charges. He added that a suitable reply would be given to the Governor at the right time.

Interestingly, the former PM Mr HD Deve Gowda and the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Mr Siddaramaiah called on the Governor separately and the show cause notice served by the Governor on the Bellary ministers reportedly figured in the discussions. Mr Kondaiah initially filed a complaint on January 13 and thereafter followed it up with a supplementary complaint about a week ago to substantiate his charge. The complaint of Mr Ugrappa also refers the same charges. He has sought invoking the provisions of the Representation of People Act relating to disqualification of a member. The Governor has directed the respondents in the case to appear before him on June 3.

Mr Bhardwaj, a legal expert having been a practicing advocate and thereafter serving as Union Minister for Law in the UPA Government, is stated to have invoked the provisions under Article 192 of the Constitution and has sought the remarks of the Ministers to the complaint made against them. Mr BS Yeddyurappa has also stepped in to end the controversy involving the Ministers.

(Sourced from the Hindu)