The Karnataka ministry formation drama started on a partisan note with Governor Vajubhai Vala showing unflinching devotion to NaMo-Shah led BJP by swearing in B. S. Yeddyurappa as chief minister and providing a merry fifteen days time to lure the opposition camp MLAs for the vote of confidence. The Karnataka governor had full knowledge that BSY does not command majority. At the same time, the records placed before the governor indicated that the Congress-JD(S) post-poll combine chief ministerial candidate HD Kumaraswamy had the wafer thin majority in the newly formed Karnataka Assembly. The criteria of inviting the leader of the single largest party to explore the possibilities of forming the government would be appropriate had there been no option of a post-poll coalition enjoying majority support.
Recently, in Manipur, Goa and Meghalaya the respective governors refused to provide the first opportunity to the single largest party. More particularly, the governor of Goa was displeased to even provide an audience to the Congress party, probably under the ostensible fear that they may stake claim knowing well that numbers in small states like Goa are fickle and impulsive tending towards who is invited to form the government. In these small states, the BJP cobbled up post-poll alliances in break neck hurry which in other words is described as smart politics and dashed to the Raj Bhavan eliminating the opportunity to the single largest party. The same game was unexpected from the Congress and JD(S).
In fact, political commentators were predicting that any deficiency in the wagons required for the BJP train to enter the Bangalore Secretariat would come from former PM and JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda. However, the impressive BJP scorecard made them to pause and rest a while whereas HDK could get ensconced in the chief ministerial chair only through the alliance with the Congress. Though appears to be a contradiction, it could have been a BJP-led government if the party had bagged little lesser seats. Their machinery would have been alert and worked over-time on the required machinations.
The partisan drama scripted by the highly politicised office of the governor of Karnataka ended in two days due to the timely intervention of the Supreme Court. The apex court could have stayed the swearing but exercised restraint and respected the wisdom of the governor though unwise. The Supreme Court restored the democratic tenets as envisaged under the Indian Constitution by ordering of immediate vote of confidence. The governor had provided a window of fifteen days to BSY to beg, buy, borrow or steal MLAs. Had it not been for the Supreme Court, the emotion packed speech and narrative of BSY in the Karnataka Assembly convened for the confidence vote would have been completely different with bloated chest and vitriol attack on opposition accompanied by thumping of desk.
The Supreme Court deserves accolades for timely, fast and also least intervention for desired impact. This is no doubt an interim order and the final judgement on the exercise of the power by the governor in the instant case is expected with set of rules for future. The proceedings in the court has also brought to the limelight the extent to which constitutional posts and offices such as governor, Attorney-General for India etc are eclipsed by politics. The AG went to a far end pleading that the anti-defection law should not apply before taking oath of MLA meaning that an MLA elected on a party ticket can leave or resign from the party or join any other political party without inviting the disqualifications under the tenth schedule. The AG also was insisting on secret ballot during confidence motion thereby making the party whip during such motions toothless.
The failing governors to constitutional tenets are not only during BJP time. There are umpteen instances during Congress rule. However, the blatant misuse of discretion by the Karnataka governor has rebound legally and politically against the BJP. The show of camaraderie and togetherness by opposition leaders at the swearing in would not otherwise happen. This is a direct offshoot of the high handed exercise of power by the gubernatorial office. There is also a downswing in the perception cycle that BJP is a party intolerant to corruption. The BJP agenda of projecting secularists as anti-Bharat (‘sicularist’ is their word of ridicule) and those opposed to BJP as questionable on the meter of nationalism is getting deflated.
Though Karnataka finally got a majority government with the combined Congress-JD(S) enjoying a vote share of 56%, this may not be the end. It could be the beginning of yet another different end. If these two parties can keep their flock together, it would be good omen for opposition unity for 2019 general elections as it would provide credibility to coalition moves and stimulate people’s confidence in search of change from “unfreedom” friendly NaMo-Shah led BJP.
However, it would not be an easy task for the leadership of Congress and JD(S). The BJP vultures would work 24×7 for the desired break as there is no dearth of carrots and sticks in their political kit bag. Amit Shah and BSY are now free to grab the mutton of Independents and other party MLAs. The majority numbers are too thin for sustainability and stability. The present ruling coalition may not survive for long unless they too shoot to capture from the BJP camp. In the end, politics is reduced to numbers and dirty politics is usurping mandate of people by MLA trading.
(The writer is an educationist and political commentator)
