Port Blair, May 18: The Andaman & Nicobar Pradesh Congress Committee in pursuance of the nation wide call made by the All India Congress Committee, New Delhi organized a Dharna on 18/05/2018 at Gandhi Statue at 3.00 p.m. to observe “Save Democracy Day” to protest against the deliberate act of Governor of Karnataka with the collude of Bharatiya Janata Party to threaten the democracy in Karnataka by inviting BJP leader to sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka , whereas the Congress and JD(S) post poll coalition submitted the list of 117 MLAs which is more than the required number to form the government. All senior party leaders and members, members of Pradesh Mahila Congress, Sevadal, Youth Congress, INTUC, NSUI and frontal organizations of the party and general public in large number assembled at Gandhi Bhavan and proceeded to the venue of Dharna by taking out procession with the banner of “Save Democracy Day”.
Senior leaders of the Congress Party addressed during the Dharna. They quoted that in the recently concluded elections to the Assembly of Karnataka state for 222 seats, no party got clear majority by securing more than 50% seats of its own to form the government. The Indian National Congress winning 78 Assembly seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) i.e. JD(S) securing 37 seats made a post-Poll coalition and along with 02 independent legislators submitted the claim to form the Government in Karnataka based on clear majority with 117 MLAs . Also , so far as the mandate of the people of Karnataka is concerned ,the Congress party despite securing lesser number of seats compared to BJP got the highest vote share of 38% and cumulative vote share of Congress + JD(S) and the independents comes to 60.5% as against of BJPs vote share of 36.2%. However, the Governor of Karnataka who is a former Finance Minister of BJP in Gujarat with RSS links , invited the leader of BJP, having only 104 seats out of the 222 seats for which elections were held in the Assembly , to sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka which is murder of democracy, violation of the constitution, negation of the law and subjugation of every known principles.
The speakers said that the constitutional position is unequivocal and clear. Once a clear-cut majority of two political parties coming together or of other legislators supporting the political parties is established, like in the case of present INC + JD(S) coalition, only option before the Governor is to call such a coalition for formation of the government. They cited examples of Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya wherein Congress party emerged as the single largest party, yet BJP plus post-poll coalition partners were invited to form the government on the principle that they have clear majority without giving chance to Congress Party to prove its majority in the floor of the assembly. However in Karnataka without following this precedence the BJP which does not have the requisite majority, have been invited to form the government, clearly establishes that Governor is attempting to permit BJP to convert minority into majority by horse trading and by permitting the legislators to change their mind based on various financial and other benefits.
The speakers urged the gathering to fight together to safeguard democratic principles and the sacredness of the Constitution.
