The BJP government in Karnataka and Governor H R Bhardwaj are on a collision course over the appointment of new Lokayukta, with the Raj Bhavan missive finding no immediate favour with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar on Thursday said after a cabinet meeting that the government has followed “precedents” and consulted Chief Justice of the high court, leaders of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council and presiding officers of both Houses before recommending the name of former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Justice S R Bannuramth to head the anti-corruption agency.
Bhardwaj had written to the government asking it to “rethink” Bannurmath’s name, citing reports in a section of the press (about alleged land-grabbing charges against him), among others.
Kumar said the chief minister has already met the governor twice and explained the government’s stand (on the choice of Bannurmath) and “the method adopted by the government in which we have followed precedents till now in Karnataka”. In response to questions, he said Gowda is going through the governor’s letter and would take the “next course of action” after studying it.