Time to say goodbye to Karnataka Governor Bhardwaj, Hans Raj Bhardwaj. He seems to be on an overdrive in addressing the new political situation that has now arisen in the State following the Supreme Court's verdict reversing the High Court's decision which upheld the decision of the Speaker disqualifying 11 BJP and 5 Independent MLAs.

These MLAs, in truth, were poached by the JD (S) led by former Chief Minister and State JD (S) President H. D. Kumaraswamy — at what price or what allurement everybody knows from the media — to dethrone Yeddyurappa.

These 11 BJP MLAs and the 5 Independents too were attracted to JD (S) - Congress trap more by ministership or some money - making office rather than by the ideology of BJP or with a sense of service to the people of their constitution.

Naturally, they became easy prey to the predatory politics of JD (S) and Congress. And both these parties know that for now in Karnataka, they cannot dislodge the BJP government as long as B. S. Yeddyurappa is the Chief Minister. Therefore, the opposition game plan was rather Chanakya - esque — first bring down Yeddyurappa from the Chief Minister's gaddi, plant a Shettar or Eshwarappa and then pull the carpet from under the new CM's feet. That way create instability in BJP and with an obliging Congress Governor like the Bhardwaj, bring in President's rule and then in six months, go for fresh election. And during the President's rule (which will be Congress rule by the back door), breakup the Lingayat solidarity achieved by Yeddyurappa, thus fragmenting BJP's Lingayat vote bank before going for the election. A good, wise and intelligent political game plan by the opposition.

Unfortunately, this plan went awry because of the counter - strategy executed in lightning speed by the BJP, where it disqualified the dissident 11 BJP MLAs and the 5 Independent MLAs with the help of the Speaker K. G. Bopaiah, who being from the BJP, was only too willing to oblige. The timing of disqualifying them too was strategically perfect — just a day before the vote of confidence moved by Chief Minister Yeddyurappa. There was no time for those disqualified to go to the court and try for a stay. In short, it was a pre - emptive strike, like the one Isralis are capable of. This was in October 2010. And two developments took place following this.

One, matter went to the High Court — the 16 disqualified MLAs challenged the decision of the Speaker. Two, the pro - Congress Governor H. R. Bhardwaj, when on October 10, 2010 Yeddyurappa sought a vote of confidence and won amidst a pandemonium, did not lose time to recommend President's rule to the Centre.

The Central Government, however, in its wisdom — or was it helplessness at that point of time? — refused to oblige the Congress hatchet - man of a Governor. Consequently, another confidence vote was taken within a gap of four days on Oct. 14th, 2010 — a rare, hence historical, political phenomenon of a democracy and in this too, Yeddyurappa won.

But peace evaded poor Yeddyurappa as if being cursed by some Satan or Sanyasi as in Hindu mythology. The opposition accused Yeddyurappa of some new "Corruption" charges. A concerned citizen was made to seek permission from the Governor, as per law, to prosecute the Chief Minister in a court of law. And once again the pro - Congress Governor obliged. The moment the permission was given, whole hell broke loose — "Yeddyurappa should step down" was the united war - cry of the opposition. But BJP High Command stood by Yeddyurappa despite some overly ambitious BJP MLAs and Ministers expressing displeasure.

Now, it is indeed an act of vulgar display of hauteur on the part of H. R. Bhardwaj, the arrogant, overconfident, pro - Congress, blatantly partisan Governor to once again write to the Centre recommending President's rule following the Supreme Court's verdict nullifying the disqualification of 16 MLAs by the Speaker. This, despite these MLAs writing to the Governor pledging their unconditional support to Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa and his government. What has gone wrong with the Governor's knowledge of law, about which he is never tired of boasting?

Considering the conduct of H. R. Bhardwaj, the Governor, ever since he came to Karnataka, it is as clear as daylight that here is a man who seems to be set on a course, blatantly and without impunity, to subvert the very important constitutional institute of Governorship.

We must remember that these 10 MLAs, despite sending fax - letters from Delhi itself informing the Governor of their unconditional support to Yeddyurappa and the BJP government, went to Raj Bhavan on Sunday to give personally this letter of support to Yeddyurappa. But he refused to see them on the lame excuse that being Sunday he did not have office staff to assist him. However, at that very moment, he was holding discussions with Congress leaders Siddharamaiah and Dr. G. Parameshwar, who had gone there to request Bhardwaj to recommend President's rule in the State. Not just this, Bhardwaj did not find staff problem to send his recommendation to the centre to impose President's rule that very Sunday itself. Well, it is these kind of constitutional authorities who destroy the democratic institutions. For them, their political party and leaders, read Sonia Gandhi here, are more important than the country's constitutional institution.

Now the question is: What could be the reason for Bhardwaj not to meet the 10 MLAs [one H.S. Shankaralingegowda had decided to plough the lonely furrow, as it was] who wanted to hand over to him their letter of "unconditional support" to Yeddyurappa and his government?

The answer is not far to seek. He had already decided to recommend President's rule following Supreme Court's verdict and wanted these MLAs to hold on to their old stand of withdrawing support to Yeddyurappa government, as per their letter of October 2010. Perhaps, for this reason, he did not want to spoil the party, so to say, by accepting this letter saying they are withdrawing their earlier letter and in its place, giving a new letter with contents contrary to the earlier one. Let it be.

Looking back and looking into the present, it is clear to Karnataka people who are not partisan that there has never been a Chief Minister who has worked his way up from the grass - roots level, from the village level, worked with the farmers for over four decades, climbing rung by rung to a position where he is today. Sadly, the crab - culture of his own partymen has been haunting him like a scourge ever since he became a Chief Minister after suffering the ignominy of being reneged by the one whom he trusted — H. D. Kumaraswamy.

It was only providence that gave him the victory that he got and became the Chief Minister on May 30, 2008; but then trouble seemed to follow him like shadow. Even before the Opposition took up cudgels against him, it was Governor Bhardwaj who first gave signs of his intention to dislodge Yeddyurappa. While speaking at a function in Tumkur, immediately after assuming office, he called BJP as a communal party and naturally his inference is anybody's guess. The rest is history and also a political charade mounted in collaboration with the JD (S) and Congress. This is nothing but harassing Yeddyurappa so that his focus is shifted from effective administration to fire - fighting.

There seems to be a political paradox in whatever is happening in the office of the Speaker and the Governor. If the Speaker K. G. Bopaiah, a loyal and also able BJP man, could be accused of being partisan in disqualifying the 11 MLAs at the right time to favour his party Chief Minister and save his government, the Governor H. R. Bhardwaj too is equally guilty of being partisan in acting like a one - man opposition to favour his Congress party State President Dr. G. Parameshwar and the opposition leader Siddharamaiah to help them achieve their goal of bringing down the BJP Government.

And finally, assuming the Centre imposes President's rule despite Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's assurance to the contrary, the matter will go to the court and there will be another B. S. Yeddyurappa judgement on the lines of S. R. Bommai judgement from the Supreme Court which said in unequivocal language that the forum to test the majority is the floor of the Assembly and neither the Raj Bhavan nor the Rashtrapati Bhavan.