The recent developments in Karnataka politics that have been permitted by all concerned to degenerate into a constitutional farce do not redound to the credit of the state’s legislators. Nor, for that matter, do they raise the stature of the constitutional functionaries in question — the chief minister, the Assembly Speaker and the
governor. Each has given ordinary citizens — in Karnataka and the rest of the country — a distinctly uncomfortable feeling about the sorry way politicians of all hues play the game. In effect, this is hoodwinking the people in order to capture or retain power.
It is apparent to all that the House was in a chaotic state when the confidence vote was taken by the B.S. Yeddyurappa government on Monday. Armed policemen were present in the well of the House, within full view of the marshals trying to intimidate anti-BJP legislators, who are, incidentally, no angels. The behaviour of legislators shouting obscenities and dancing on table-tops can hardly be said to be the most opportune moment to call for the consideration of any motion, leave alone a confidence vote. In the event, the Speaker’s contention that he did not call for a division as no MLA asked for it smacks of deep partisanship. The chief minister won the confidence vote after the Speaker had unilaterally interpreted the rules to disqualify inconvenient legislators. The same Leader of the House has now accepted the governor’s instruction to go through the process once again on October 14. How extraordinary! Does this mean that he agrees that Monday’s vote was a fraud? The role played by the governor in all this has also been unconventional, not to put too fine a point on it. It is clear as day that his brainwave to have a second confidence vote would only impel more horse-trading. In Bengaluru’s political stock exchange, some astounding values of political shares are being talked about. The prudent course for the governor might have been to counsel restraint and wait for the deliberations of the high court to which the disgruntled MLAs — BJP members as well as Independents — had taken their case.
It is commonly presumed that the governor had recommended dismissal of the Yeddyurappa government after the farcical Monday vote. Has he? Is UPA-2 in a position to sustain the proposition in the Upper House of Parliament? Now the question is largely academic, of course. It is unlikely that the Centre will take any forward step on the Karnataka crisis before the high court has spoken. Initially, some had speculated that the governor might have taken directions from New Delhi in appearing to be dynamic. In the light of what we have seen, this looks unlikely. Nevertheless, it is plain to see that governor H.R. Bhardwaj may have placed the Congress Party and the UPA-2 government in a false position. The BJP view of Mr Bhardwaj is likely to be a coloured one. That party had been seeking his removal long before the present crisis broke. Therefore, not much credence need be attached for demands for the governor’s dismissal. Nevertheless, one thing is clear. The Congress should not have resorted to the practice of making an active politician a governor. This recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission is, alas, mostly observed in the breach.
In the meantime, the upcoming second confidence vote on Thursday could well produce a pro-government result without the mayhem that was witnessed on Monday. In that event, what might happen if the high court rules in favour of the dissenting MLAs can only be guessed at. No one need be unduly surprised if such a denouement leads to a standoff between the judiciary and the legislature right on the heels of ruptured relations between the executive and the governor. This is an unenviable situation to be in.