Opinion | Let democracy win
1 min read . Updated: 09 Jul 2019, 05:26 PM ISTKarnataka in the midst of a full-blown political crisis. Let’s hope all players abide by the rules of democracy so that stability is restored and governance resumes
With Karnataka in the midst of a full-blown political crisis, the fate of the state’s H.D. Kumaraswamy government seems to rest with what the Assembly speaker chooses to do next. Political uncertainty has prevailed for months now, but the troubles deepened after 13 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the ruling Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance—10 from the former and 3 from the latter—sent in their resignations. If Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar accepts these, the ruling alliance would lose its majority. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has recently gained the support of an independent MLA, would hit the 106 halfway mark in the reduced 212-member house. The speaker has sought to meet the legislators individually before moving ahead. He has also indicated that he may not accept the resignations unless he is convinced there is valid reason. In such a situation, the current government will continue. But if he does accept them, then a floor test could send the incumbent packing. Karnataka’s Governor would have to decide whether to call the BJP to form a government, asking it to test its majority by a vote in the house, or order fresh elections (or impose President’s rule if the circumstances so justify it).
Whatever the outcome, what’s important is to follow the procedures and principles laid down in the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings on these matters. Such occasions are fertile ground for politicians to use money power, coercion and influence to dislodge existing governments and form new ones. On this, the BJP’s record hasn’t been much to write home about. In Arunachal Pradesh and Goa, it showed no hesitation in forming new governments, even though the Supreme Court restored Arunachal’s earlier government in what was seen as a stinging indictment of the party’s role in toppling the regime there. True, the BJP is within its rights to form new governments to expand its political footprint, but its actions must fall within the four corners of the law. It can’t be denied that the ruling alliance in Karnataka has fared poorly in providing a stable government. This has made development a casualty. But placing another alliance cobbled up through money and muscle power with little ideological or political confluence may not be the right way out. Let’s hope all players abide by the rules of democracy so that stability is restored and governance resumes.
