Yeddy can still smile

“The ball is not in my court, and I don’t have any role to play in this.” The honourable governor has sprung surprise with these words. Surprise because His Excellency H R Bharadwaj is the kind of referee wishing to kick the ball regardless of the court.

We know his obsession over the illegal mining. We know how he tried to humble the Reddy brothers to appear at his doorsteps with an explanation. Now he is saying he has no role to play in the drama unfolded by so called leakage of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.

We know his overtures intending to overthrow the first BJP government in Southern India. A man, who tried thrice to invoke article 356, is now saying he is not interested in imposing president rule in Karnataka.

What a transformation! But, why it is? Is it enlightenment due to the fingerers burnt after banking on the Madam to shake Yeddyurappa’s base? Or is it realization of the fact that gubernatorial loyalty to the Madam won’t fetch a cabinet berth in the centre? Or is it awakening to the reality that shaking hand with Yeddyurappa is more remunerative than toadying to the Madam?

Anyone of them, or all of them, or none of them might be the reason. But, the consequence is that we are spared from an ivory tower farce this time; a great relief from the insipid debate on governor’s role in the federal structure. No Governor Hatavo by the BJP, and no Rajbhavan Bachavo by the Congress. His Excellency deserves our thanks.

Not that there is no role for the governor in the procedure to be followed by submission of the Lokayukta report. Section 13 of The Karnataka Lokayukta Act says the governor can vacate the chief minister if the latter is indicted in an investigative report. The leak indicates Yeddyurappa is named in the report, and it would be a golden opportunity for Bharadwaj to settle old dues.

As a rule, the government can take three months to say whether the report is accepted or rejected, and Yeddyurappa will surely play this card to buy time before rejecting the report on the grounds of leakage before submission or any other possible excuse. But, the specialty of this case is that the chief minister is figured in the report by the agency entrusted by him alone. No one is allowed to play a dual role of culprit and magistrate. And Yedyurappa is no exception.

This is where Bharadwaj will get a vital role to play in the unprecedented drama. With chief minister is seen in the culprit place, the governor must wear the mantle of the magistrate. And he can easily show Yedyurappa doors. What he could not achieve in the past, is on his plattter now.

But, why is he developing a sudden ennui in the face of a blooming scope like Arjuna losing valiancy in the face of the battle? Does he need a Geethopadesha by Deve Gowda or a performance-enhancing drug from the Madam?

He needs them indeed. But, neither Gowda is in a position to deliver a Geethopadesha, as he done it many times in the Rajbhavan, nor the Madam has stock of the drug.

Gowda is busy in seeking advice to avert the effect of the report in which his son's name is to be dazzling, while the Madam looking for the means to ease the effect of the report that is to throw up her party colleagues.

This is the exact reason why Yeddyurappa is still smiling.