Caravan News
NEW DELHI: Though way behind the halfway mark, the BJP formed the government in Karnataka Thursday morning as BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister by Governor Vajubhai Vala. The Governor had invited Yeddyurappa Wednesday evening to form the government, but it was challenged in the Supreme Court by Congress and Janata Dal-Secular.
While terming the decision of the Governor as “encounter of Constitution”, Congress and JD-S moved the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India formed a three-judge bench to hear the petition in the night itself on Wednesday.
In a rare scene, the apex court opened after the midnight and the bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan heard the petition for three and half hours and declined to stay the swearing-in of Yeddyurappa.
In the Assembly polls, BJP could win 104 seats in the 222-member Assembly. Congress won 78 seats and JD-S 38 seats. Soon after the results were declared on 15th May, the Congress and JD-S formed an alliance and staked claim to form the government. Leaders from the two parties met the Governor on 15th May evening itself. However, Governor Vala did not take any decision. Later, BJP also staked claim to form government. Next day it was able to ‘win’ the support of an Independent MLA and in the evening, taking its tall to 105. Still short of 7 seats in having a simple majority, the Governor Vala invited Yeddyurappa to take oath Thursday morning and prove his majority in 15 days.
In the Karnataka case, the Governor, following a chapter of the rule book, invited BJP as the single largest party, though it is short of majority and ignored the post-poll alliance of Congress and JD-S even though it enjoys majority. However, in the Goa and Manipur last year, Governors of the two states had not followed this chapter of the rule book and not invited Congress though it was the largest single party. In both states, BJP, in minority, stitched a post-poll alliance to claim majority and Governors allowed it to form the governments.
While the apex court declined to stop the swearing-in but made its decision subject to the outcome of the case. The hearing will start Friday morning.
“Mockery of our Constitution”, tweeted Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday morning in his reaction over the development. “The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy, Gandhi tweeted.