Stepping up its offensive, the Karnataka BJP on Monday demanded immediate recall of governor H R Bhardwaj, slamming his recommendation for imposition of president's rule as "undemocratic" and has decided to parade party MLAs before president Pratibha Patil against his action.

BJP legislature party adopted a resolution at a meeting describing Bhardwaj's recommendation as "politically ill-motivated" and "against the spirit of the constitution".

Senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu told legislators that they will be paraded before president Pratibha Patil in New Delhi tomorrow to expose the governor's "anti-democratic act"

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said he enjoyed the support of 121 BJP MLAs in the 225-member assembly. He termed the governor's action as "undemocratic and politically ill-motivated."

Accusing Bhardwaj, a former union law minister, of converting Raj Bhavan into "Congress Bhavan", he said his action violated the supreme court verdict in the S R Bommai case.

By his recommendation, the governor has become a "laughing stock", Yeddyurappa said, adding, his recall has become "inevitable".

Charging Bhardwaj with "deliberately acting adversely" in the interest of the state, the resolution said his report to the president to keep the assembly in suspended animation was "without any substantive reason and against the spirit of the constitution".

"Hence, we strongly demand the central government and president of India to recall governor H R Bhardwaj from Karnataka with immediate effect," said the resolution read out by BJP state unit president K S Eshwarappa.

Naidu, who made a blistering attack on the governor, warned that if the centre accepted Bhardwaj's recommendation, it would invite "universal condemnation". He sought to allay apprehension in the minds of the legislators, saying: "Nothing to worry. We are going to complete our term".

Yeddyurappa said chief ministers of NDA-ruled states "are in touch with us and giving all support".

Another resolution said the legislature party which included MLAs who have returned to the party fold and three new legislators elected in the recent bye-election, backed Yeddyurappa as their leader.

Ministers and BJP MLAs later held a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, dropping their earlier plan to hold such a protest in front of the Raj Bhavan.

They raised anti-governor slogans and demanded his immediate recall.

Earlier report:

Yeddyurappa slams Bhardwaj's report, to stage protest

Slamming the Karnataka governor for recommending dismissal of his government, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa today said the action amounted to an "affront" to the pride of the people of the state and the mandate given to BJP.

"The Congress bosses in Delhi are using the governor to commit anti-constitutional acts. I will not allow the murder of democracy," he told reporters here.

Yeddyurappa said, "The governor's action amounts to an affront to the pride of the people of Karnataka and also the mandate of people given to BJP".

The chief minister said that he along with his ministerial colleagues and MLAs will stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan at noon to protest governor H R Bhardwaj's decision to recommend dismissal of the BJP government.

He also lashed out the governor for declining to meet 10 BJP MLAs when they went to Raj Bhavan to submit their letters of support and described it as an "insult" to elected representatives.

"The governor's action in recommending dismissal of my government was anti-democratic as it enjoyed the support of 121 members," he said, adding, "Even now I am ready to prove my majority, if the governor asks me".

He said he would also lead a delegation of MLAs and MPs to Delhi either on Monday or Tuesday to meet prime minister Manmohan Singh to protest against the governor's action.

Yeddyurappa said the emergent cabinet meeting called this afternoon would take some important decisions.

The official residence of Yeddyurappa was abuzz with activity with ministers, MLAs and BJP leaders thronging it.

Sunday's report:

Crisis in K'taka as Bhardwaj recommends president's rule

The BJP government in Karnataka on Sunday plunged into a crisis with governor H R Bhardwaj recommending dismissal of the Yeddyurappa ministry and imposition of president's Rule in the wake of supreme court quashing the disqualification of 11 party rebel MLAs.

The party and chief minister B S Yeddyurappa hit back at the governor's move saying it is a "conspiracy of the Raj Bhawan that is not acceptable". A meeting of NDA leaders may take place tomorrow and a delegation could call on the president to oppose the governor's recommendation.

On a day of high drama, the governor, who has been having a troubled relationship with the government, has sent a "special" report to the centre, the Raj Bhawan said. Sources said he has recommended a spell of president's Rule and for keeping the assembly in suspended animation.

The report from Bhardwaj, who returned here from Delhi this morning, comes in the wake of supreme court reversing the Karnataka high court decision of disqualifying 11 BJP rebel MLAs and five independents ahead of the October 10, 2010 floor test in the assembly.

Yeddyurappa, whose party earlier in the day claimed that the crisis was over with the rebels extending support to his government, attacked the governor and urged the president not to give in to his recommendation.

Addressing a late night press conference at his house, Yeddyurappa said the BJP had a majority in the House and the governor was playing a political game at the behest of Congress and the JD(S).

The chief minister said he had written a letter to president Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking them not to accept the governor's report.

Party leader Arun Jaitley told reporters in Delhi that the BJP government enjoyed the majority in the Karnataka assembly and has the support of at least 121 MLAs in the 224-member House with the return of the 11 party rebels.

Attacking the governor, he said that the state government has asked for the convening of the assembly session tomorrow, "which he (Bhardwaj) is not allowing".

In the morning the governor had said in Delhi that the floor test was not a good idea and his recommendation in the evening is a "conspiracy of the Raj Bhawan which is not acceptable", Jaitley said. His recommendation is "unconstitutional" and goes against the spirit of federalism.

A brief communique issued by Raj Bhavan said "in the context of recent judgement of the supreme court in the matter of disqualification of MLAs on May 13, 2011 and its implications to the developments in the state, a special report has been sent to the centre".

Yeddyurappa said he has convened the assembly tomorrow and he was ready to prove his majority on the floor of the House if the governor so directed.

Jaitley said the governor has been speaking on the issue following the verdict of the supreme court which has taken a view different from the high court on the disqualification issue.

"Judicial verdict cannot be a reason for imposition of Article 356," he said adding the supreme court censures the government everyday on the issue of 2G or blackmoney.

He hoped the centre would reject the governor's recommendation.

This is the second time, Bhardwaj has recommended for president's rule in the state.

In October last year, the governor made such a recommendation after 16 MLAs-- eleven from BJP and five indendents submitted him a letter withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa government.

However, the centre then rejected the report and allowed the first ever BJP government's continuance, which had won the floor test twice in a gap of two days under the direction of the governor.

The recommendation by the governor has stunned the BJP which was heaving a sigh of relief after roping in support of the 11 rebels who pledged their "unconditional" support to government on Sunday.

Yeddyurappa asserted this morning that he commanded an absolute majority and there was no need for him to seek a fresh floor test to prove majority of his government.

Ten of the 11 MLAs, besides faxing their letters of support to Raj Bhavan from Delhi, had also submitted it to the governor through a delegation of ministers after Bhardwaj declined to meet them.

Asked whether he would ask the BJP government to go for a floor test, Bhardwaj said on Saturday, "Floor tests have not helped Karnataka. It was destroyed by manipulation."

The letter extending support to Yeddyurappa was signed by Balachandra Jarkiholi, Sarvabhouma Bagali, Shivanagowda Naik, Anand Asnotikal, Y Sampangi, B A Kage, S K Bellubbi, B Gopalakrishna, Nanjundaswamy, M V Nagaraju and Shankaralingegowda.

Related stories:

Home ministry examining report

The home ministry is examining the report of Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj recommending dismissal of the Yeddyurappa ministry and imposition of president's Rule in the wake of supreme court quashing the disqualification of 11 party rebel MLAs.

The ministry is looking into the details on what ground the governor recommended imposition of president's rule and keep the assembly under suspended animation, official sources said today.

A note will be prepared and put before the cabinet for a final decision, the sources said, indicating that the union cabinet would meet soon to discuss the issue.

The governor, who has been having a troubled relationship with the Karnataka government, has sent a "special" report to the centre yesterday recommended a spell of president's Rule and for keeping the assembly in suspended animation.

The report from Bhardwaj comes in the wake of supreme court reversing the Karnataka high court decision of disqualifying 11 BJP rebel MLAs and five independents ahead of the October 10, 2010 floor test in the assembly.

Yeddyurappa, whose party earlier in the day claimed that the crisis was over with the rebels extending support to his government, has attacked the governor and urged the president not to give in to his recommendation.

Yeddyurappa has said the BJP had a majority in the House and the governor was playing a political game at the behest of Congress and the JD(S).

The chief minister said he had written a letter to president Pratibha Patil and prime minister Manmohan Singh asking them not to accept the governor's report.

Party leader Arun Jaitley said here on Sunday that the BJP government enjoyed the majority in the Karnataka assembly and has the support of at least 121 MLAs in the 224-member House with the return of the 11 party rebels.

Attacking the governor, he said that the state government has asked for the convening of the assembly session tomorrow, "which he (Bhardwaj) is not allowing".

Cong guarded over Bhardwaj's report

Congress was guarded over Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj's report to the centre recommending president's Rule in the state in the wake of supreme court quashing the disqualification of 11 BJP rebel MLAs.

Seeking to steer clear of the issue, party general secretary Madhusudan Mistry said, "How do you know what in the governor's report. We are not aware of what the governor has written to the centre. It is a matter between the governor and the centre. I have no idea".

Asked whether president's Rule should be imposed, he said, "I don't know what is the governor's report".

A similar response came from Janardhan Dwidedi, chairman of the AICC media department.

Earlier, Mistry had said that "If the governor has recommended president's Rule then it is a welcome step."

He had gone on to state, "In view of the supreme court judgement this government must go."

Dubbing the Yeddyurappa government as the "most corrupt", he said it has broken all constitutional norms to remain in power.

He said Congress workers in Karnataka would stage demonstrations in every district headquarter and present memorandum to the authorities against the government.