Is His Excellency the Governor crazy ???

Hans Raj Bharadwaj, His Excellency the Governor of Karnataka is in the news again. News report suggest that the Governor has taken into account the recent events and recommended the Karnataka Assembly to be kept in "suspended animation". The BJP is up in arms against the Governor and the Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is planning a dharna outside Raj Bhavan. Soli Sorabjee (former attorney general of India) has called this move by the Governor as arbitrary and accused him of acting partisan and behaviour not worthy of the head of state. All this furore has brought sharp focus on the role of Governor and a basic question, should the head of state be a mute spectator if the executive is running a poor show? If the CM is running the government at the pleasure of the Governor, should the CM be allowed to foul mouth the Governor. If the same thing happens at the Centre, will we all abuse the President of India? These are all valid questions and needs introspection. In the end, if the Governor cannot act as a checks and balance to the working of Chief Minister then probably we do not need a head of state. Let the CM be supreme authority. Else, lets respect the chair of the Governor and not foul mouth it in public.



Let me come to the particular problem. Soli Sorabjee (with no due respect) is losing it. He is called upon by the news channels as a constitutional expert but arrives always on behalf of his client, B.S. Yeddyurappa. People should know that he appeared on behalf of the Government of Karnataka in the High court to justify arbitrary disqualification of 16 BJP members of legislative assembly by the Speaker of Karnataka Assembly. The Government (i.e CM and the Speaker) received strictures from the Supreme court for not following procedures and not following path of natural justice. Even then, Soli Sorabjee had a blinkered view that everything Yeddy does is the right way forward. Even now, he stands by his client. Moving on, let me take you through the 3 years of BJP rule in Karnataka and at the end of it I would like to ask, was the Governor arbitrary?



In May 2008, the BJP got its first government in south Indian state of Karnataka. B.S. Yeddy rode on the sympathy wave caused by "breach of trust" by ex-CM Kumarswamy which led to mid-term polls. Since then, in the last 3 years, Karnataka has hardly seen the CM in control. For first 3 months, Anant Kumar (BJP MP, Bangalore South) was breathing down his neck as he wanted to be the CM of first BJP Government of Karnataka. Somehow, Yeddy convinced the Delhi leadership that if the BJP wanted to get Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, they must let him be the CM for at least a year. He got a breather. In 2009, Nort-east Karnataka saw the worst floods which affected 5 districts and completely destroyed several villages. People were living in camps and roadsides with no food or water. Yeddy decided on "padyatra" to ask for donations for flood relief and the people of Karnataka donated generously. The CM raised 500 crores in 10 days and got a relief package of 1500 crores from centre. Midway through the padyatra, Reddy brothers began the strangle hold on Yeddy and the CM cancelled his plans to bring on flood relief. Yeddy was in Delhi for next 45 days trying to save his Government. Imagine, the state without a CM for 45days when it is facing worst floods. On 46th day, Yeddy appeared on TV weeping that he had to sacrifice Shobha Karandlaje (minister in his cabinet) in order to save his Government. He could not find tears for people who lost their life, property, near/dear ones in the floods but he sure cried for his friend and colleague.



The Government was saved. No one knows what happened to the 500 crore that he raised from public donations. In the next 3 months, the office of the CM, several of his ministers were dragged into illegal mining controversy and the CM agreed that he was arm twisted by Reddy brothers into allowing it. The Supreme Court brought a ban on mining in Karnataka because the CM was helpless in stopping it. There were several allegations of illegal land denotification by the CM to favour his family and relatives. Interestingly, he agreed to doing it and said he was following his predecessor (isn't A.Raja in Tihar Jail for same reasons :P ). Again he was seen weeping on TV citing his limitations and asking people to indulge him. Meanwhile, Yeddy has been buying loyalties of Reddy brothers by giving them plump ministerial portfolios. Reddy brothers are bankrolling elections in Karnataka by "operation Lotus" where-in they make legislators from JD-S and Congress resign their seats in-lieu of 30 crores cash and surety of getting them re-elected on a BJP ticket. This has helped BJP increase its tally from 108 /224 in May 2008 to 121/224 in May 2011. Awesome operation indeed. Again in October 2010, Yeddy faced fresh rebellion from 16 MLAs and was asked to prove his majority on the floor by H.E. the Governor. Yeddy won the vote but not without a little help from the Speaker who randomly disqualified the 16 MLAs and did not allow them to vote. For last 6 months, the Lokayukta of Karnataka is building a case to prosecute Yeddy and Reddys for illegal mining and illegal denotification.



The last nail in the coffin was the Supreme court strictures and reversal of disqualification of the 16 MLAs by the Speaker. Now, if the Governor fires Yeddy, it cannot be called arbitrary. If I were Yeddy, I would thank His Excellency profusely for putting me out of my misery and allow President's rule. When next elections are announced, go to the people and ask for a bigger mandate and rub salts on the wounds of Congress. The BJP as usual is trying to resuscitate a Government in coma. If they save it today, in 6 months there will be fresh rebellion. Who are the losers?? the people of Karnataka. They deserve a Government who serves them but they have a CM who is forever trying to save his chair and fight the Governor. Please pull the plug and end this charade. Seek a fresh mandate without the money power of Reddys if you really want to govern. Else continue this path of perpetual confrontation and lose the next election miserably as you will not have any achievement to show for.



So long.....