I don't need an astrologer or even a Kodi Mutt Seer - soothsayer (whose predictions always go wrong anyway, especially in the case of B. S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka's BJP Chief Minister) to predict that Congress party would get less number of MLA seats than JD (S) in the 2014 or the next Assembly election (whichever happens early) if the present Governor H. R. Bhardwaj continues in the Gubernatorial office which is filled with dry gun - powder intended to blast out of office the BJP government.

One need not be surprised if the Congress is further discredited in the State and all the evil designs of the “more loyal than the king” kind of Governor boomerangs. Apart from what would happen to the Congress in the State in the next election, there is a larger issue of maintaining the dignity and Constitutional propriety of a Governor's office. This man is playing petty politics all the 24 hours, converting Raj Bhavan into an office of the Opposition.

Therefore, it is not surprising if a legal luminary like Soli Sorabjee poses a question: What happened to our impartial Governors? He was having H. R. Bhardwaj in his mind while asking this question.

Soli Sorabji, Rajeev Dhavan and B. G. Verghese

He says this man does not know his role as a Governor in a federal polity. The founding fathers of our Constitution envisaged a Governor "who is free from the passions and jealousies of local party politics, a person who will hold the scales impartially." But look at H. R. Bhardwaj. He is mired in politics so much, that he has made himself unfit to hold this office. If he does not resign, which is unlikely being the trait of all such persons, then it is for the Congress High Command (read Sonia Gandhi) to recall him and rehabilitate him elsewhere or sacrifice him to sanctify the Governor's office. Aurangazeb, the Mughal emperor, lost his Deccan possession because local rulers and the people realized the truth "Delhi Door Hai" and revolted. This is a lesson from history for the Congress. Earlier the Congress learns this, better hope for it in the next election.

Another highly respected journalist, thinker, social activist B. G. Verghese says without mincing words, "Bhardwaj should be recalled for his blatantly partisan conduct." Should anyone say more? I am sure, even if "Delhi Door Hai," these words of wisdom would be heard in Delhi. The Congress High Command can feign deafness only at its own peril.

All this is certainly not to defend Yeddyurappa. After all, we all know he is not a paragon of virtue. Well, no politician in Today’s India for that matter. Exceptions are as rare as hen’s teeth. Let it be.

And now let us see what the well - known Constitutional expert Supreme Court Advocate Rajeev Dhavan writes in “Tehelka” magazine of May 28, 2011. He says, "Karnataka Governor H. R. Bhardwaj is either a hatchet man or an embarrassment to the Congress party or both. Days of using stooge Governor are gone, he says. When the Constitutional machinery in the State has not broken down to recommend President's rule, how could Bhardwaj misuse or abuse his powers? Dhavan is both eloquent and just when he writes, "he should be recalled and not given any gubernatorial posts ever." I am sure Gods, Janata Janardhan, who are the defenders of democracy, will applaud this.

Dhavan alludes to the Supreme Court’s decision of 13th May 2011, quashing both the Speaker's and High Court’s order and says, "the Apex Court appears to be wrong on two counts. First, the Court indicts the Speaker for taking hasty decision. This comment gave Bhardwaj political gunpowder to question the confidence vote in October 2010 and claim Constitutional breakdown to justify recommending President’s rule. Neither stance is justified."

Dhavan says, the Supreme Court confused necessary speed (of Speaker’s action) with contrived haste and asks, "Should this Speaker have waited until after the confidence vote?"

Whatever it is, Dhavan has hit the nail right on its head when he writes, that "Bhardwaj still thinks that he lives in the Indira Gandhi period of misusing the rule. His motives are as perverse as his action."

And the final blitzkrieg: "For the Governor to act as a political predator is simply unforgivable. He is not fit to be Governor and should be recalled."

It is understandable that opposition political parties will not subscribe to his view, but the Civil Society must demand this Governor's recall. It should be “Karnataka against Bhardwaj”, like “India against Corruption” of Anna Hazare.