State News And Discussion - 3

[ramana]

Deccan Chronicle a pro-INC paper gives a blow by blow account of how HDK messed up in Karnataka. However the INC role is not commented upon 8)



Anatomy of a failed coup

Anatomy of a failed coup

October 17th, 2010



R. Jayaprakash



Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was at the epicenter of the high voltage political drama, could have scripted a new chapter in Karnataka if he had not committed political hara kiri. The man in a hurry made three grave tactical errors that worked to the advantage of the BJP which, at the end of the day, breezed through the political storm.



Political pundits point out the blunders that left the JD(S) high and dry:



Stratagem



1 HDK had the numbers, but lacked foresight: As the drama of resort politics unfolded on October 5, with 17 MLAs — six Independents and 11 of BJP — camping in Chennai, HDK sent out a strong message to the nation that he was going to successfully pull the second coup of his life and bring down the BJP government. On October 6th, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj received letters from these 17 withdrawing support to Yeddyurappa. Acting swiftly, the BJP, through the Speaker, issued show cause notices to the 17 MLAs. In addition, the Governor directed the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the house on October 11. The BJP which pressed its troubleshooters to bring the rebels back faced a serious threat of defeat as none were successful. With no options left, at 5 am on October 11, the speaker disqualified the 16 MLAs and barred them from the trust vote.



WHAT HDK SHOULD HAVE DONE: If HDK had led only 10 MLAs, 6 Independents and 4 BJP MLAs to the Governor, that would have been more than enough for the Governor to direct trust vote. The other 7 MLAs could have remained in the BJP fold but could have voted against the government and defeated BSY on the floor. By exposing all 17 MLAs, he opened the doors for the BJP to draw up a strategy to bar 17 members from voting.



2 It is no secret that Governor Bhardwaj wanted the BJP government dismissed. The day 17 MLAs forwarded the letter to him, he directed the Speaker to conduct the trust vote with all the 224 MLAs in the House and warned him that in the eventuality of an “unfair” trust vote he would have the final say. But the Speaker moved quickly and disqualified the 16 MLAs under the anti-defection law.



WHAT HDK SHOULD HAVE DONE: Kumaraswamy could have gained the upper hand by boycotting the trust vote. HDK and co. could also have petitioned the Governor on the pre-dawn disqualification of MLAs. The chaos such an action would have created would have been enough for the Governor to recommend President’s rule. But HDK blundered by going to court against the Speaker’s decision, hoping for a stay order, which he didn’t get. By doing so, he painted himself into a corner as any action in this connection would become sub-judice.



3 On October 11, Yeddyurappa in a house of 208 proved his majority through a voice vote amid a ruckus, with Independents barging into the well of the Assembly. As the Governor called the trust vote a farce and recommended President’s rule, and the high court did not stay the disqualification of 16 MLAs, the BJP taking advantage of the crisis and confusion took the battle to Delhi, raging against the Governor and embarrassing the UPA government.



WHAT HDK SHOULD HAVE DONE: On October 12, the Governor, in an unprecedented move, called for a quick press conference and offered Yeddyurappa a second chance to prove his majority. While it is still a mystery what prompted the Governor to do so, he gave all the clues to HDK and co. that his offer was not according to the law of the land and the rule book. The man who drafted the 10th Schedule that, ironically, deals with anti-defection law actually gave enough hints to HDK to go to court against the second trust vote and ask for a stay. Luckily for the BJP, neither JD(S) nor Congress did so. Instead, they tried frantically and in vain to advance the date of hearing on the petitions of the 16 disqualified MLAs.

The role of the Congress appointed Governor is not even commented on. How is the Governor's wish to overthrow the BJP govt a legitimate wish? And where is the INC great minds in all this?