Under attack from the BJP for recommending dismissal of the BS Yeddyurappa Government, Karnataka governor HR Bhardwaj on Tuesday defended his action on the ground of "breakdown" of constitutional machinery. As the BJP paraded its MLAs before President Pratibha Patil and demanded his recall,Bhardwaj rejected as "baseless" the allegations that he recommended President's rule as the government had lost majority.

"First of all an impression is being created that despite the Government enjoying the support of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly, Governor submitted the report for invoking the provisions of Article 356 (1) of the Constitution on the grounds that the Government lost the majority. This is completely baseless," a Raj Bhavan communique issued here said.