Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter YES, WE DID IT ESHWARAPPA’S DISCLOSURE MAKES BJP GOVERNMENT ILLEGAL & UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHY IS THE GOVERNOR SILENT NOW?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala  

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

YES, WE DID IT!

ESHWARAPPA’S DISCLOSURE MAKES BJP GOVERNMENT ILLEGAL 

& UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHY IS THE GOVERNOR SILENT NOW? 

 The State BJP President K.S.Eswarappa has officially confirmed the fact that the State BJP government grabbed power through money and caste power. Everybody knows this fact but there was no official confirmation. Now that the State BJP President himself has admitted this fact, the government has lost legitimacy. Morally, legally and technically, the government has lost any right to continue in power. Despite the public admission that money and caste was used to form the government by none other than the Party President himself, one wonders why the Governor, who is the custodian of the constitution in the state, is keeping quiet. Everybody knew that the BJP formed its first ever state government in the state by procuring the support of six independent MLAs. The BJP had obtained 110 seats in 2008 elections, three short of simple majority. The Congress and JD(S) together won 108 seats. There were six independent MLA’s whose support was crucial for the formation of the government. Before the last result was announced, Janardhana Reddy, the Mining Czar clinched deals with the independents for their support and eventually B.S.Yeddyurappa became the Chief Minister. 

 At that time itself, there were colourful stories of money and perks paid to independent MLAs. Out of the six independents, five were made cabinet Ministers and another was made the Chairman of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board with cabinet rank. So, all the six independents were given ministerial positions. The monetary aspect was looked after by Janardhana Reddy and allegedly each of the six MLAs was promised 25 crores in cash and minister ship. But people did not attach much importance due to euphoria created by the formation of the first ever state government by the BJP in the South India. 

 Nobody would have grudged had Yedurappa managed the government with simple majority. But he was afraid of the largest opposition ever, which had 108 MLAs. Moreover, Yedurappa had his own suspicion about the continued support of the six independents and was apprehensive of the Congress toppling the government by luring away six independents. 

 Yedurappa therefore started hunting for more support and tried to snatch as many MLAs possible from the opposition to decrease their strength. And thus started his Operation Kamala. The Reddys, who were entrusted, brought in four MLAs from Congress who were made to resign their MLA posts and join the BJP and were immediately made ministers. Later they contested the by-elections as BJP candidates and the Reddys ensured their victory. With the induction of four more ministers, the support base of Reddy’s increased much to the chagrin of Yedurappa. In fact, Yedurappa wanted to bring some more MLAs on his own without involving Reddys. He targeted MLAs of his own Lingayath and brought in Umesh Katti a lingayath strongman from JD(S). S.K.Bellubbi, a minister was asked to resign to make way for Umesh Katti and Katti was made a minister. Later, Yedurappa procured V.Somanna from Congress and engineered other defections from Congress and JD(S) in the old Mysore region, majority of who are lingayath and a couple of them Vokkaligas. 

 Yedurappa catered to his lingayath vote bank especially its Matadhipathis, so that they can come in handy to him in consolidating his power. In fact, whenever Yedurappa faced the danger to his CM post, many of the lingayath Swamijis have rushed to his rescue and at one point of time, they even threatened to take to streets if any harm was done to Yedurappa. 

 Whatsoever, Yedurappa had heralded an unadulterated Corrupt Raj in the state so much so that the state was ranked Number one in corruption in the entire country. Many of the ministers lost their posts due to corruption charges and some have even gone to jail including Yedurappa himself. More than a dozen ministers are facing court cases for their corrupt acts. 

 To sum up, the BJP government in the state was formed with the brute force of money and sustained by the caste factor. Everybody knows this because it was a reality. And now the state BJP President K.S.Eswarappa has admitted this fact and no one can have any doubt. The so called heresays about the MLAs getting purchased, caste becoming dominant factor etc. have now been confirmed officially by the state BJP President. 

 Now what? Our constitution prohibits role of money and caste in formation of the government and its sustenance. It is not only illegal but unconstitutional too. Democracy and democratic government can not be run on money and caste factors. The state BJP government has lost legal, moral and democratic right to run the government any more. In proven cases of money spending - enticement of voters through money and caste, the Election Commission and the courts nullifies the elections or the elected persons. 

 When this being the case, one can not understand why the Governor is keeping defeaning silence over the matter. It is time; he interferes and dismisses the government. One can not allow this illegal government to continue. But as the old saying goes - who will bell the cat? 

That is all.