Do not insult the constitution
In the recent past, some esteemed Judges had cautioned against the subverting of constitution and the powers granted by the constitution. They had felt ever since BJP came to power in the centre, democracy was under threat. Extra constitutional powers were constantly attempting to destabilize the democracy and democratic institutions. Today, assembly elections in Karnataka are a big example of this subversion in progress. It is no secret that the raids conducted in the run up to the elections using IT and other agencies were done for political reasons. Even after all this, BJP didn’t get a full majority, but had to be satisfied with 104 seats, at least nine seats short of the majority. Now the governor Vajubhai Vala has invited B S Yeddyurappa, the Karnataka leader of this party to form the government. This has obviously created anxiety among activists who fight to retain the spirit of democracy. Opinions that governor’s decision to allow one party to form the government and then take time or be given time to prove majority on the floor will give rise to ‘horse trading’ are not too far from the truth either. HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) has already said his party members are being offered Rs 100 crore to defect and join the BJP.
One interpretation is that BJP legislative party leader BS Yeddyurappa is being invited to form the government against the people’s mandate since the party did not get absolute majority. This morning he may even take oath to the office of the Chief Minister of Karnataka. If this happens, it would create a very bad precedence. The governor may claim he invited the single largest party to form the government with 104 members. If this was the case, why was it not followed in the case of Goa which has 40 seats where Congress was in majority with 17 members over the BJP and its allies? When this matter was taken to the Supreme Court, even the court upheld the decision of the governor. The same case repeated in Manipur where Cong emerged as the single largest party. BJP with just two members was allowed to form the government with allies. Meghalaya too favoured Congress with 21 seats, but the party was denied the opportunity to form the government. BJP and allies formed the government there too. Union minister Jaitley said this was a constitutionally appropriate measure. Same thing repeated in Nagaland too where Cong emerged as the biggest party but was denied the opportunity to form the government. But one needs to know why the same rule cannot be applied in Karnataka too? JD(S) and Congress together have submitted a list of MLAs in their support to the governor, to stake claim to form a government. Governor needs to give them an opportunity to show solidarity at least. But then this is not being done.
Elected governments have to be formed under the very rules laid down by the constitution. But the happenings after the conclusion of assembly elections in Karnataka are quite appalling. The person who occupies the chair of a prime minister says he would not allow the JD(S) and Congress to form the government. This amounts to directly influencing the governor who has invited the party without majority to form the government. All these aspects do not hold up the spirit of democracy. The governor is not concerned about how the leader of this party would even prove majority on the floor later. Because there are not too many independent MLAs in Karnataka at the moment except for one and that number is not sufficient to achieve majority.
Now horse trading will have to be done between JD(S) and Congress MLAs. This move by the governor will give rise to all probabilities of this happening. Amit Shah is in Karnataka to achieve this very goal. Though no party has got absolute majority, nearly 64% of the voters have favoured secular parties. BJP could secure only 36.2% votes among the ones polled. Now when secular forces have come together to form the government, the governor should allow this to happen acting in the spirit of democracy. But the governor Vajubhai Vala comes from the Sangh Parivar background and was a minister in PM Narendra Modi’s government. But whatever be his history, he has to be impartial when he sits in the office of the governor. There are many examples on how a governor should take decisions in political situations like this. In 1998 when a similar situation had arisen, President K R Narayanan had allowed time to Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government to prove majority on the floor. Then the BJP had accepted this. Even now, the same parameter must be followed, Kumaraswamy and his allies should be allowed to form the government. Else, he would be committing a major blunder on this matter and would be failing the constitution as well as democracy.
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BJP will form govt in Bengal with thumping majority: Nabin
Mirzapur (UP) (PTI): BJP president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday voiced confidence that his party will form the government in West Bengal with a "thumping majority".
Polling is underway for 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, covering key districts, including Kolkata, Howrah and North and South 24 Parganas.
The high-stakes contest is being seen as decisive for the ruling TMC's bid for a fourth consecutive term and the BJP's push to form its first government in the state. The first phase held on April 23 recorded a high voter turnout of over 93 per cent, reflecting intense electoral engagement.
Speaking to reporters in Mirzapur, Nabin said, "The BJP will form the government in Bengal. We are winning the elections with a massive majority."
Earlier in the day, the BJP chief visited the Vindhyavasini temple and offered prayers. The rituals were conducted by his priest Acharya Agastya Kumar Dwivedi.
On his first visit to the district after assuming office, Nabin was welcomed by party workers at several places. At the temple, he was received by city MLA Ratnakar Mishra and District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar, who felicitated him with a traditional 'angvastram'.
After offering prayers for about 10 minutes amid Vedic chants, Nabin held a meeting at a hotel with local MLAs, including Mishra, Majhwan MLA Suchismita Maurya and Madihan MLA Ramashankar Patel.
Patel said Nabin emphasised strengthening the organisation and asked public representatives to focus on serving people in their respective constituencies.
Several party leaders, including district president Lal Bahadur Saroj, district vice-president Gaurav Umar, municipal chairperson Shyam Sundar Kesari, women workers and senior officials, were present on the occasion.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place by the district administration for the visit, with multiple officers of circle officer rank deployed, officials said.
