The Opposition leaders have reached an agreement that if the Supreme Court rules against the Congress-JD(S) combine it could hold a joint protest in Bengaluru or in Delhi bringing together all the senior Opposition leaders. BSP leader Mayawati, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav could be part of this protest march.
Mr. Yechury said what is happening in Karnataka is not acceptable.
“There is determination among all the secular Opposition parties, that if this is not corrected, to make this into a big national issue in defence of democracy. The BJP is blatantly violating our Constitution and parliamentary democratic norms,” he told The Hindu on Thursday.
Countrywide protests
Efforts are on to make sure that the matter does not die down easily. Countrywide protests will be planned till the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Staking claims to form the government by the Congress in Goa and Manipur and by the RJD in Bihar are part of these efforts.
“Informal consultations are on how to move collectively. The Governor’s office has become a controversial office. Governors must act in accordance with the Constitution and can’t act under the diktat of the BJP and the RSS,” CPI leader D. Raja said.
The Opposition leaders played a significant role in bringing the Congress and the JD(S) together. Phone calls were made to both UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and JD(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda the night before the results came out on May 15, advising them to stay united to defeat the BJP.
Ms. Mayawati, Mr. Yechury and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee spoke to Mr. Gowda.
