Indian politics continues to throw surprises as well as tantrums, as each passing day we witness bizarre tweaks the constitution authors may have never contemplated. The three layers of the government, the executive, legislature and the judiciary seldom crossed swords, despite their periodical test for usurping each other’s domain.
In Karnataka’s case, the usually insulated governor’s action was altered by the Supreme Court when it curtailed the floor test period from the 15 days to 24 hours. Besides, the court barred any executive actions by CM Yeddyurappa until he wins the trust vote, which would happen today at 4 pm openly and transparently.
The Congress has moved the Supreme Court once again over the appointment of the pro tem speaker, Boppaiah, who is a BJP MLA. However, because speaker must be an MLA in the present assembly, should be a member of one or other principal party BJP. Congress or the JDS. There is unlikely to be a change in the attitude of bias or partisanship towards their respective groups, in case the speaker was from the other camp. I guess the SC would have nothing to do with the selection of the pro tem speaker.
In the division of the house with raised hands during the voting, the fear of the world (read the SC) watching, may deter the MLAs from violating the whip, unless one or another decides to quit their party, which would disqualify from taking oath as an MLA. They would not at this juncture do any damage to their prosperous political career in any form of alternative government and could decide to lie low for a while.
In my opinion, Yeddyurappa will fail to prove his majority, and the JDS Congress alliance will be in replacement. However, the defections could take place within six months, ending the euphoria of the anti-BJP camp. The relation between JDS and Congress has been cold all throughout in the past years, and the present alliance could be merely a marriage of convenience to grab the power.
If on the contrary, a few rebel MLAs from the Congress party resign to pave way for BJP’s victory, it would be a betrayal of people’s mandate!
I understand that the Supreme Court would nudge the lawmakers to formulate and embed the sequence of the invitation of parties soon, the largest, the pre-poll alliances, the post-poll coalition etc. to avoid any repetition of not only the Karnataka episodes but also Goa, Manipur etc. They should also now permit ‘a right to recall by the voters,’ if they consider the democracy any worthy at all and bar parties resorting to resorts of people’s representatives as if they are sheep.
Bye until 4 pm!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix
