Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party and Janata Dal (Secular) have condemned Governor Vajubhai Vala for inviting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the next government in the State despite it not having enough members required for forming the government.
At a joint press conference in Kalaburagi on Thursday, Maruti Manpade, leader of CPI(M), alleged that the Governor was acting like a puppet in the hands of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP by denying an opportunity to the Congress-JD(S) alliance to form the government despite the coalition having enough members for a simple majority.
He cited various examples in the recent history where BJP was invited to form the government in different States along with its post-poll coalition partners and condemned the Governor for not doing the same in Karnataka.
“After the recent Assembly elections in Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Goa, BJP neither got enough seats to form the government nor did it emerge as the single largest party. Yet, it was invited to form the government with the support of other parties with whom it had forged an alliance after the poll. However, in Karnataka, the Governor did not take a similar call. BJP has emerged with a single largest party with 104 seats. But, the Congress-JD(S)-BSP post-poll alliance has 117 members, four seats more than required for the simple majority. It had submitted a letter to the Governor with the signatures of all the members. Yet, the Governordenied it the opportunity of forming the government,” Mr. Manpade said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP were “hell-bent on destroying democracy and the Constitution.”
Devegowda Tellur, district secretary of JD(S), alleged that giving 15 days’ time for BJP’s B.S. Yeddyurappa for proving majority on the floor was intended to provide enough time to the BJP for horse trading. He also objected to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s announcement of waiver of farm loans up to Rs. 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised banks.
“Having no majority in the House, it is just a care-taker government. It cannot take major decisions till it proves its majority. Waiver of farm loans was meant not for implementation, but for publicity,” he said.
CPI representative Maula Mulla was present.
Protests, celebrations by various parties
The Kalaburagi police detained Congress leader and former MLC Allamprabhu Patil and several party workers after they staged a protest outside the District Congress Committee Office in Kalaburagi city on Thursday against Governor Vajubhai Vala for allowing the BJP to form the government. Mr. Patil raised slogans against BJP leaders for allegedly misusing the Constitution.
The police also detained JD(S) and CPI(M) party workers, who tied black cloth to their arms and wore black caps and staged a protest at Jagat Circle.
The supporters of Nassir Hussain Ustad, JD(S) nominee from Gulbarga North constituency, staged the protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Following the party’s drubbing in the constituency, they alleged that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been tampered with, contributing to the massive win of the Congress.
Meanwhile, members of Veerashaiva Lingayat Samanvaya Samiti gathered at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Chowk hours after B.S. Yeddyurappa sworn in as Chief Minister and celebrated by distributing sweets.
