Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has hit out at the dramatic turn of events in Karnataka saying that the developments are sabotaging people's will and basic principles of democracy.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Pinarayi wrote, "By withholding the alliance which has a majority in the assembly, the constitution is being misused for forming government for the BJP which secured less seats and less votes. The Governor’s post should be transformed as one that protects the interests of the ruling party at the Centre and harms democracy. The BJP spokesperson who announced Raj Bhavan's decision in advance gave the message that the Governor is implementing what the BJP decides. This is paving the way for horse-trading, which is slaughter of democracy. The Governor’s move to invite the party which doesn't have a majority to form the government should be re-examined.”
For the last two days, the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru has been the centre of all the political action, with the BJP, Congress and JD(S) making a beeline to meet the Governor.
After multiple meetings with the BJP, JD(S) and Congress, Governor Vajubhai Vala has invited the BJP, led by their Legislature Party leader BS Yeddyurappa, to form the next government in Karnataka.
If the swearing-in goes ahead, then Yeddyurappa will have to prove his numbers on the floor of the Assembly, and the Governor has given him 15 days to seek a vote of confidence.
In response, the Congress has challenged the Governor’s decision in the Supreme Court since they feel that the Congress-JD(S) alliance should have been invited to form the government by virtue of having more MLAs on their side.
Meanwhile, addressing the media on Wednesday, CM-hopeful HD Kumaraswamy said, "We brought to the Governor's notice that in Meghalaya, Goa and Manipur, Congress was single largest party but Governors there allowed alliance partners with the highest number of MLAs to stake claim. When the BJP is 9 numbers short of the halfway mark in Assembly, what right do they have to form the government?"