The fate of newly-appointed Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa hinges on the stand the Supreme Court will take on Friday after going through his letters to Governor Vajubhai Vala in order to stake claim to form a Government.
During the proceedings held in the Supreme Court in the wee hours of Thursday, the Bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan categorically said they wish to know on what basis the Governor felt confident that Yeddyurappa can form a stable Government despite being short of the majority mark by eight MlAs. The SC directed the Attorney General to produce the copy of the letters written by Yeddyurappa to the Governor on May 15 and 16 to clarify this aspect.
Much depends on these letters as senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who argued for the twin petitions filed by the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), told the SC that it was essential to know the contents of the letters to be assured that the Governor acted just and reasonably. He pointed out that the Congress-JD(S) combine had submitted its list of 117 MlAs to the Governor, and by all means, they should have been invited to form a Government in Karnataka.
Singhvi also raised objection on the grant of 15 days to Yeddyurappa in order to prove majority in the Assembly. He claimed the Governor’s order was a perfect recipe for horse-trading, which has been proscribed by the Supreme Court while dealing with similar cases in the past where fractured mandate led to post-poll deals and poaching of legislators.
It would be open to the court on Friday to determine whether the 15-day period granted to Yeddyurappa was justified considering the fact that the court in the past, when faced with similar cases, had directed the party in question to prove its majority within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the Congress-JD(S) combine fired a fresh salvo in the SC by lodging a new petition seeking to restrain the Anglo-Indian nominated member from taking part in the House proceedings. In the petition, likely to be heard on Friday, the Congress-JD(S) has sought a direction to set aside the nomination of Anglo-Indian Vinisha Nero by the Governor till Yeddyurappa undergoes a floor test in the House.
Meanwhile, veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani too has jumped into the fray. He too has filed a petition in the SC challenging the Governor’s decision to invite BJP to form a Government.