Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj has sent a report to the Centre recommending President's rule in the state.

Raj Bhawan sources said the Governor has noted in his report that what had happened during the business relating to confidence vote in the state Assembly on Monday morning "is all unconstitutional".

Bhardwaj, who had on Sunday written to the Speaker, asking him not not to change the "character or configuration" of the House ahead of the vote, sent his report to the President hours after today's vote conducted amidst scenes of pandemonium.

The Governor is understood to have said in his report that the Speaker's action in disqualifying 16 MLAs--11 of BJP and five Independents--was "unconstitutional" and amounted to a farce of proceedings.

In his letter to Speaker Bopiah on Sunday, the Governor had said "Any attempt to change the character or configuration of the house in the run up to the vote of confidence motion, is bound to vitiate the proceedings".

The Governor had cautioned that "any result obtained by such a vitiated proceedings will not be acceptable".

Related Reports

Governor's recommendation a pre-written Congress script: BJP

Dubbing the recommendation of Karnataka Governor for imposition of President's Rule in the state as a "pre-written Congress script", BJP today accused Congress of misusing Raj Bhawan for its political interests.

"Karnataka Governor's recommendation of President's Rule is nothing but a pre-written Congress script against the elected government of Karnataka. Congress from the very beginning is misusing the Governor's office for its political purposes and has converted the Raj Bhawan of Karnataka into a Congress Bhawan," BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI.

The senior BJP leader alleged that the Governor's recommendation is "politically motivated, constitutionally wrong and part of an attempt to destabilise the constitutionally elected government of the state".

Describing Congress as "a professional killer" of constitutional values and democratic norms, Naqvi said "this time what has happened in Karnataka is another heinous crime by the Congress against democracy and the constitution."

Governor H R Bhardwaj is believed to have sent his report to the Centre calling the events and the vote in the Assembly as "unconstitutional" and "farce" and that the state should be brought under President's rule.

He is understood to have noted that Speaker K G Bopiah's action in disqualifying 16 MLAs--11 of BJP and 5 Independents--was unconstitutional and had vitiated the proceedings.

BSY stays in power as K'taka Speaker mutes MLAs

Amid scenes of pandemonium, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today "won" a vote of confidence in the Assembly under a cloud after the Speaker disqualified 16 MLAs, including 11 of BJP, hours before the trial of strength.

High drama marked the proceedings when Speaker K G Bopaiah declared the motion of confidence passed by a voice vote.

The opposition vowed to challenge the Speaker's ruling disqualifying 11 BJP MLAs and five independents early in the morning, disregarding Governor H R Bhardwaj's directive last night not to change the status quo in regard to the party's strength as on October six before the rebels withdrew support reducing the government to a minority.

In Delhi, Union Home Ministry sources expressed concern over the "abuse" of the anti-defection law by the Speaker when he disqualified 16 MLAs.

Disqualified MLAs approach HC for stay

Sixteen MLAs, who were disqualified from their Assembly membership, today moved the Karnataka High Court challenging their disqualification and seeking stay of the Speaker's order.

The petition is expected to come up for hearing before a division bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar later in the day.

Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah has disqualified 11 BJP and five independent MLAs on a complaint filed by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa alleging that they have attracted provisions under the anti-defection law by withdrawing support to his government.

Yeddyurappa confident of winning trust vote

Hitting out at the Opposition, particularly JDS for leading a campaign against his government, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said he would order a comprehensive inquiry to "expose" the money power used in luring MLAs.

After winning the trust vote by voice vote, the Chief Minister told reporters "We will conduct a comprehensive inquiry to expose the money power used in luring MLAs."

Yeddyurappa accused opposition Congress and JDS of indulging in unruly scenes to destabilise his government after "realising that they do not have a majority".