Karnataka politics: Shiva Sena comments on Governor

Mumbai, May 19: The Supreme Court's decision of devastating the 15-day window given to newly elected Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to demonstrate majority revealed that Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala had favoured the BJP, the Shiv Sena said.

It also unproved that the BJP has power, so it may win over Congress and JD(S) MLAs to prove majority in the Karnataka.

"The Karnataka influence play reached the lobby of the Supreme Court, which essentially negated the decision of Governor. In spite of the BJP not having the clear majority, Governor Vajubhai Vala furiously invited it to form the government and gave 15 days time to prove the majority," the Shiv Sena quoted.

"But the SC shortened the 15-day window and ordered it to be done within next 24 hours. This illustrates that the governor had granted extra favours to Yeddyurappa. The SC decision of decidedly cutting the 15-day window shows that the governor was a blunder.

"The newly-elected members of the Karnataka Assembly are yet to take the oath. But ever before that, the governor had nominated an Anglo-Indian member. Although it is the advantage of the governor, given the political fluctuation and the power play at work, it was an attempt to assure one vote (to BJP)," the Shiv Sena said.

This proposal is done based on the Chief Minister's advice. But in this case, Yeddyurappa was yet to prove majority in the House. Therefore, by staying the nomination, the SC once again revealed that the governor's move was false.

"The BJP has 104 MLAs, but it does not have the answer as to how it is going to prove majority in the House. If at all there is an answer, it is either hidden in the money bags or lies with the Enforcement Directorate or the CBI. The responsibility of proving the majority seems to be more on the police, CBI, and ED than Yeddyurappa," it said.

"Congress's 4 MLAs have gone missing, while the mining mafia in politics has become active once again. probably because of them, Yeddyurappa is positively saying that the BJP will win the expectation vote," the Sena added.

"However, the letter presented before the SC, which Yeddyurappa had previously acknowledged to the governor, says that some JD(S) MLAs will support him. This letter itself is a proof of horse-trading," it said.

"The Supreme Court has given a punch to the BJP in Karnataka. Nonetheless, forasmuch as the party's policies, it will either win over some MLAs from the Congress and JD(S) or ask them to go on missing during the trust vote. This way, it will accomplish its promise of sustaining elegant and clear governance," it is said.