‘Shameful Power-mongering’: Bengaluru Fumes Over Political Crisis

Citizens are fuming over the ongoing political crisis, blaming a toothless anti-defection law.

Citizens are calling the ongoing political crisis in Karnataka a ‘travesty of democracy’.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

“It is now time for the courts to step in to ensure that there is an investigation taken up suo motu and the MLAs and political parties involved should be prosecuted.”

Kshitij Urs, Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, NLSIU and Bengaluru Resident

As Karnataka’s political crisis is spiralling out of control for the sixth consecutive day, citizens are fuming over the lack of governance and accountability in the state.

“It is a travesty of democracy because people have voted to be governed, this coalition has not governed at all since the time that it was formed last year. There are many instances of impropriety as far as the Constitution is concerned,” added Urs.

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 11 July, directed the ten rebel MLAs who petitioned the SC regarding the delay in Speaker Ramesh Kumar’s acceptance of their resignations, to appear before Kumar at 6 pm on the same day. With more resignations in the offing and CM Kumaraswamy reportedly adamant about not stepping down, the woes of citizens are likely to escalate.

‘Anti-Defection Law Should Have Option for People’s Referendum’

While calling the situation in the state “pathetic”, activist Brinda Adige said that, “The choice of the MLA to resign, to defect, whatever it may be should come before an impartial judicial committee. It has to be revamped, the anti-defection law should have the option for a people’s referendum.”

Urs added that when former PM Narasimha Rao was charged with horse-trading in 1992, and when he was trying to save his own government, many levels of court had not granted him immunity from proceedings despite of his position.

“Instances of MLAs being bought out by other political parties in Karnataka today is not being investigated and it is not only unconstitutional to buy MLAs , but also those who receive money to toe a certain line in the Legislative Assembly,” he said.

Tara Krishnaswamy, the co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru and Shakti, said that it was deeply distressing and shameful to see the behaviour of the MLAs.

“What is difficult for an ordinary citizen to understand while seeing all this drama, is why people with questionable loyalty are so sought after by both parties,” she said.

‘Why Don’t Politicians Care About the State as Much as we do?’

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, a concerned citizen and corporate employee, wondered why the government was not wroking alongside willing citizens to transform Bengaluru.

“Look at the all the citizens and different groups coming together to make a difference with such earnestness and such sincerity and so much focus and love for the city, why can’t a little bit of it be shared by the government?” she questioned.

“More and more people are going to be disgusted with this kind of politics and I hope that when these people stand for re-elections, every single one of them loses their deposit and permanently disappears from the political scene of Karnataka.”

Srinivas Alavilli, Co-founder, Citizens for Bengaluru