Siddaramaiah govt rejects K’taka Governor’s demand to drop 11 paras from address; may move SC
Bengaluru: The tussle between the Congress-led government and the Governor in Karnataka is likely to deepen after the government decided not to delete the 11 paragraphs from the joint session address to be delivered by the Governor.
Sources said there is a possibility of a constitutional crisis in the state over the issue, and the state government is likely to approach the Supreme Court seeking directions for the Governor to read the speech prepared and handed over by the government.
The joint session of the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled to begin at 11 am on Thursday. Sources confirmed that the state government has adopted a wait-and-watch strategy until 11 a.m. The Governor is scheduled to begin his address to the joint session at exactly 11 a.m. Before that, at 10.55 a.m., he is required to reach the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha. If the Governor fails to attend the session or refuses to deliver the address even after the stipulated time, the state government has decided to initiate a legal battle.
At the directions of the Chief Minister, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty has left for New Delhi. Discussions are underway on the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court and seeking directions for the Governor, according to sources.
In the proposed petition to be filed before the Supreme Court, the government is likely to seek directions on two key points. First, the Governor must read the government’s address in the House. Second, the Governor must discharge his constitutional duties. The Chief Minister has entrusted A.S. Ponnanna and the Advocate General with the responsibility of preparing the petition.
It can be recalled that the uncertainty over the Governor’s customary address to the joint session continued, with Governor Thawarchand Gehlot asking the state government to remove 11 paragraphs from the speech prepared by the state Cabinet.
The delegation that met the Governor conveyed that the matter would be discussed with the Chief Minister, and a decision would be communicated to him.
The joint session is scheduled to be held on Thursday. A delegation headed by State Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor and MLA A.S. Ponnanna met the Governor on Wednesday night at Lok Bhavan, following objections raised by him to certain paragraphs targeting the Centre over the enactment of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), and other issues.
Addressing the media after the meeting outside Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru, Minister Patil said that it is natural for the state government to criticise the injustices done to the state in the speech.
“The speech also urges the Centre to reinstate MGNREGA. The Governor has certain reservations. We clarified that we are ready to provide clarifications and change certain things. However, he is suggesting the removal of 11 paragraphs. We will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and convey our decision to the Governor,” he said.
However, Minister Patil expressed confidence that the Governor would address the joint session.