Horse trading prevented, democracy saved: FPI

The Freethought Party of India (FPI) hailed the timely intervention of the Supreme Court in the Karnataka affairs and for saving democracy from the ugly trend of horse trading.

The party said that the SC maintained its independence and rose to the expectations of the people when it did not stop the scheduled swearing in of Yeddyurappa as CM on May 17 on the Opposition plea.

But at the same time, the SC asked the Yeddyurappa- led BJP Government to show majority in the Karnataka Assembly on May 19.

The Governor of Karnataka had given 15 days’ time to Yeddyurappa for a floor test after calling him to form the Government with the BJP getting the single largest majority of 104 votes. Subsequently, there were apprehensions of horse trading by the BJP in the State from the JD(S) and Congress MLAs by huge payoffs.

“The SC did show its true calibre and independence in understanding the gravity of the situation and wanted that politics in India should not be bereft of ethics and it should be totally freed from the malaise of horse trading or buying of MLAs.

The “Resort Culture” or keeping the MLAs in luxurious hotels has become already an unethical or immoral feature in Indian politics. Therefore, the SC insisted that the “floor test” be held on May 19.

As a result, the BJP could not play its dirty game of “purchasing” MLAs from the ranks of the JD (S) and the  Congress. Therefore, it could not muster the support of 112 MLAs.

So Yeddyurappa had to tender his resignation,” said FPI general secretary B Ramchandra  CST Voltaire.

Voltaire also called for implementation of the mixed PR system of election on German model in India before the 2019 polls to do away with such ugly trends and save democracy.