Governor Vajubhai, the Man Deve Gowda must be wishing forgiveness from.

As per the final results of Karnataka assembly elections, no party has secured the clear-cut majority and BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, Congress is on the second spot with 78 seats, JD(S) has secured the third spot with 37 seats and Independent, BSP, KPJP have secured one seat each.

Political drama began immediately after the picture became clear. Congress announced its unconditional support to HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) to form the government in Karnataka. Reportedly, JD(S) has accepted their offer. Congress has learned from its past mistakes of Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya where despite getting the highest number of seats it failed to form the government and acted quickly this time. This also proves that entire agenda of the congress now rests on keeping BJP out of power..

The BJP, led by BS Yeddyurappa, has also staked its claim to form the government in Karnataka. In the scenario where BJP doesn’t have the majority, it is relying on reaching out to MLAs of other parties to get to the magic numbers.  According to media reports, BJP is trying to reach out to discontent Lingayat MLAs who don’t want to see HD Kumaraswamy being installed as CM.

Since none of the parties have clear majority, all eyes are on the Karnataka Governor, Vajubhai Vala. According to Bommai Judgement ‘single largest party has to be called to form the Government.’

 According to constitution expert Subhash Kashyap,“It is entirely up to the governor to appoint anyone he thinks proper. The governor is, however, expected to be guided by his assessment of who is likely to command majority support in the House. So, he is expected to appoint only that person as chief minister who, in his opinion, is likely to command majority support.”

According to Sarkaria commission constituted in 1983, the governor should select a chief minister from among the following parties or group of parties, in case no single party reaches the clear majority mark.

The first preference should be given to an alliance of parties that was formed prior to the elections. Secondly, the largest single party staking a claim to form the government with the support of others, including ‘independents’ should be invited to for the government.

The third preference is given to a post-electoral coalition of parties, with all the partners in the coalition joining the government. And lastly, a post-electoral alliance of parties, with some of the parties in the alliance forming a government and the remaining parties, including ‘independents’ supporting the government from outside.

Governor Vajubhai Vala’s role has become very important here. He has the sole prerogative on who to invite for government formation. Opposition parties are watching the Governor with suspicion as well as hope. At this juncture, it becomes really important for us to know about Vajubhai Vala and his background. Vajubhai has occupied the Governor’s office in Karnataka since September 2014. Before this, he served as the speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Vajubhai is a strong RSS/BJP man. He has deep roots in RSS and joined Jan Sangh in 1971. He held portfolios related to banking, real estate, finance and energy as well as labour, employment and transportation in the Gujarat Government. He has presented the budget in the Gujarat Assembly for a record 18 times. He represented the Rajkot- West constituency in the Gujarat assembly for a record seven times. In 2001, he vacated his seat to make way for Narendra Modi to contest from his seat. Under the 13 years of CM Modi’s rule in Gujarat, he was Finance Minister of the state for nine years. Vajubhai was also the BJP state President for Gujarat from 1996 to 1998 and from 2005 to 2006.

The incumbent Governor of Karnataka has some sour memories with Deve Gowda. Vajubhai was the BJP state President when Deve Gowda became the Prime Minister. Central Government of Deve Gowda suspended Suresh Mehta led BJP government in Gujarat despite proving majority in the House.

Deve Gowda must be reminiscing and hopefully regretting his blatant onslaught on democracy during his reign at a time when his party’s future rests in the hands of a man whom he had slighted in the past. Despite being in a position to reject Deve Gowda’s claim to form the government, Governor Vajubhai took the time for deliberation instead of rejecting and humiliating Deve Gowda’s claim right away. This not only shows the magnanimity of the Governor and his respect for democratic and constitutional norms but also demonstrates his unwillingness for vindictive politics on the level of Deve Gowda or Congress. 

According to the latest reports, Governor Vajubhai has invited BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in Karnataka. This is not only according to constitutional norms but also mindful of the popular mandate which the BJP won fair and square. Despite of not indulging in petty vendetta politics, Governor Vajubhai has dealt a deathly blow to Deve Gowda just by discharging his constitutional duties well within his prerogatives. If anything, Deve Gowda has only his karma to blame.