Thaindian News

Bangalore, May 20 (IANS) It’s speculation time in Karnataka as the central government has not taken any decision five days after Governor H.R. Bhardwaj recommended dismissal of the B.S. Yeddyurappa ministry.

Yeddyurappa and his colleagues in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) themselves do not seem to expect any decision soon as Friday they gave five more days to the central government to act.

This was in sharp contrast to the few hours of deadline Yeddyurappa set Thursday morning for Bhardwaj to convene the assembly session from June 2.

“If the governor does not convene the assembly by this (Thursday) evening, I will tour the length and breadth of the state in an open jeep from tomorrow (Friday) to mobilize public opinion,” Yeddyurappa said Thursday.

The waiting game has led to speculation on possible way out of the crisis - a sort of ‘face saving’ for all main actors in the nearly week-long high-tension power play - the BJP, the Congress, the governor and the central government.

Speculation 1: The BJP may ’sacrifice’ its Karnataka Speaker K.G. Bopaiah to save Chief Minister Yeddyurappa.

Speculation 2: In return, the central government will recall Bhardwaj.

Speculation 3: The central government has left it to Bhardwaj to sort out the problem he has created for it.

Speculation 4: The central government may pull up the Yeddyurappa government in view of the Supreme Court strictures on him and the speaker over the way the 16 legislators were disqualified, and warn it of action if constitutional norms are flouted.

Speculation 5: The central government is waiting to see if the BJP agitation leads to law and order problem and use that situation to dismiss the Yeddyurappa ministry.

Speculation 6: The central government and the Congress are hoping that BJP dissidents may use the stalemate to mount pressure on their central leaders to get rid off Yeddyurappa.

However, as on Friday Yeddyurappa and state BJP president ruled out Bopaiah’s resignation.