The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes the time being given to the BJP to indulge in naked `horse trading’ and the use of money power to muster a majority in the Karnataka Assembly when the officially declared results have shown that the BJP does not have a majority in the recently-concluded elections.
The Governors appointed during the current BJP government’s tenure have, in the past, followed the principle of swearing in a government on the basis of post-election arrangement between parties which have a majority in the Assembly. In the elections to the Goa Assembly in March 2017, which has a strength of 40, the Congress won 17 while the BJP won 13. The BJP, however, was invited to form the government after a post-election coalition with other parties. Likewise, in the Manipur Assembly elections in 2017, which has a strength of 60, Congress had won 28 and BJP won 21 seats. But BJP was asked to form the government on the basis of a post-poll arrangement. In the elections to Meghalaya Assembly in March 2018, out of the total strength of 60, Congress had 21 while the BJP had only 2. The BJP, however, was invited to form the government by the Governor on the basis of a post-poll arrangement which showed a majority.
In this instance in Karnataka, post-poll Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance has a clear majority in the Assembly of 222 MLAs elected. The same principle must be adopted in Karnataka like it was done in the above state elections and the Chief Minister-designate of the post-poll coalition must be sworn-in and asked to prove the majority on the floor of the House in accordance with the verdicts of the Supreme Court immediately. Delaying this would only mean that the Constitutional office of the Governor is being misused to buy time for naked `horse trading’. This is blatantly anti-democratic.
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