Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)
Bengaluru, May 17: Advocate NP Amrutesh on Thursday May 17 filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in Karnataka high court challenging the decision of governor Vajubhai Vala to invite BJP to form the government without having the required numbers yet. The PIL states that the court should not allow defection of MLAs to BJP through resigning or cross-voting.
The petition also states that the governor's decision was violation of the Schedule 10 of the Constitution and raises concerns of horsetrading if the BJP gets 15 days to prove majority.
Advocate Amrutesh also requested the court to take the up the hearing on the petition on an urgent basis. Sources said that the vacation bench of the court is likely to hear the PIL on May 22.
Several other lawyers and progressive thinkers have questioned the governor's decision to invite the BJP to form the government despite not having clear majority. The BJP has 104 MLAs where as the Congress-JD(S) alliance has claimed that they have 116 MLAs with them.
Speaking about the politics in Karnataka, senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani said, "What has BJP said to governor, that he did such a stupid action? Order of governor is open invitation to corruption."
Jethmalani has approached the Supreme Court against Karnataka Governor’s invitation to BS Yeddyurappa for forming the government in the state.
“All of us saw how Prime Minister Narendra Modi misused the office of Governor in Tamil Nadu. The same has been done in Karnataka. This is totally against democracy and rule of law. We condemn it,” says DMK leader M K Stalin.
"It is a conspiracy to destroy the constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar, since they (BJP) came to power they have been misusing government machinery, thereby attacking democracy," BSP chief Mayawati on BJP's B S Yeddyurappa being sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister.
"Karnataka governor is working like BJP's agent. He hasn’t played his role well by giving 15 days’ time. At the face of it, BJP is clearly playing dictator like role," said Congress leader Anand Sharma.
Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh tweeted, "Democracy has been brazenly manipulated, mutilated and massacred in Karnataka."
Meanwhile, the AAP in New Delhi tweeted, "Governor in Karnataka is doing the same as LG is doing in Delhi, and both are playing with the Constitutional values. In current scenario they are only following the orders of BJP top brass without keeping the fact in mind that they are at constitutional posts."
After two days of intense drama, B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka after his party, the BJP, was invited to form government in the state. The oath was administered to him by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala.
B S Yeddyurappa took oath as Karnataka chief minister on Thursday morning after the Supreme Court, in a rare overnight hearing on a petition by the Congress and the Janata Dal Secular, refused to stop the ceremony. The BJP leader has been given 15 days to prove majority by the Governor on Wednesday evening.
The Supreme Court will resume hearing the case Friday morning at 10.30 am and has ordered the BJP to produce the letters submitted by BS Yeddyurappa to the governor by then.
Congress and JD(S) lawmakers who were staying in Eagleton Resort have decided to protest outside Karnataka Assembly. The lawmakers have been camping at the resort since yesterday to avoid defection.