Bengaluru’s legislative halls turned into a battleground Thursday when Governor Thawarchand Gehlot delivered an ultra-brief address to the joint session, ignoring the detailed script from the Congress government. His short pledge to social, economic, and physical development ended swiftly, baffling the assembly and igniting fierce protests from the ruling party.
The episode underscores mounting tensions between the Governor and CM Siddaramaiah’s team. Congress members immediately surrounded the podium, hurling accusations, while BJP MLAs rallied in support, creating a charged atmosphere. Senior Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad’s attempt to confront the Governor directly necessitated marshal intervention amid the uproar.
Despite rumors of his absence, the Governor attended punctually, greeted warmly by the CM and presiding officers. But his decision to truncate the speech—after earlier demanding cuts to sections targeting Union policies—has fueled outrage.
CM Siddaramaiah labeled it a ‘constitutional transgression,’ citing mandates for Governors to follow ministerial advice. ‘We’ve been disrespected in our own house,’ he fumed, signaling legal action in the apex court. Law Minister H.K. Patil echoed this, calling non-compliance a breach of Article 176 duties.
Background negotiations failed when the Governor insisted on removing critiques of central initiatives like employment schemes. This bold move by Raj Bhavan could escalate into a full-blown confrontation, testing federal dynamics and governance in India’s southern state.