Governor to address joint session of State Assembly despite political rivalry, says Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE - Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday said that Governor H R Bhardwaj would address the joint session of the State Assembly on January 6, 2011, despite the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the State having political differences with him.

“6th (January 6), our joint session will start. In that joint session our Governor will address the joint session, that’s the decision we have taken,” Yeddyurappa told reporters.

Earlier on Thursday, Yeddyurappa said he would be writing a letter to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to clarify whether any dictum has been issued to the Governors of various states to monitor the various ministers, assess their performance and given a free hand to interfere in the normal functioning of a duly elected government.

“I am writing a letter to the President of India that the Karnataka Governor is interfering too much into the state affairs,” Yeddyurappa told reporters.

In an escalating war of words with the ruling BJP, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on Wednesday said he has a list of corrupt people in the state and offered to furnish it to those interested.

“I have given the list to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa also,” he told reporters.

The BJP had accused the Governor of behaving like an opposition leader and a Congress agent.

Reacting on Union Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily’s frequent meetings with Governor Bhardwaj, Yeddyurappa said: ” That is left to him. In what way I am concerned, Veerappa Moily is a Union Minister and he can meet anybody whenever he wants. He can meet Chief Minister, anybody.”

Yeddyurappa had on Thursday blamed Law Minister Moily for tarnishing the reputation of Karnataka by feeding negative propaganda against his government. (ANI)