Bhardwaj rejects BJP government nominee as ombudsman
Bangalore, Feb 6 (IANS) Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Monday rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s nominee S.R. Bannurmath, a former Kerala High Court chief justice, as the state’s new Lokayukta (ombudsman).
A Raj Bhavan statement said the governor “has formally rejected the advice” of the chief minister.
Bhardwaj’s action follows Bannurmath himself deciding to opt out in view of a row that he is the nominee of scam-hit former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa besides allegations that he built a house in Bangalore on a plot meant for civic amenities.
In a letter to the chief minister, Bannurmath requested him not to insist on his appointment as Lokayukta.
The post has been vacant since Sep 19 last year following resignation former Supreme Court judge Shivaraj V. Patil following a controversy that he had acquired two house sites in Bangalore from housing societies in violation of rules.
Yeddyurappa’s successor D. V. Sadananda Gowda had recommended Bannurmath’s name Oct 27 last year.
Since then Bhardwaj on one side and Gowda and the BJP on the other have been publicly sparring over the governor’s refusal to appoint Bannurmath.
The formal rejection by Bhardwaj clears the way for Gowda government to search for new names.
