Governor’s walkout sparks Karnataka showdown: Thawar Gehlot exits joint sitting mid-address; Congress cries breach, BJP counters

BENGALURU: Pandemonium broke out in the Karnataka legislature on Thrusday after Governor Thawarchand Gehlot abruptly walked out of the joint sitting of the Assembly and Council, delivering only two lines of his customary address and refusing to read the full cabinet-approved speech.The walkout followed a standoff between Raj Bhavan and the Congress-led state government over 11 paragraphs in the address that were critical of the Centre, particularly references to changes in the rural employment guarantee framework and alleged shortfalls in tax devolution and fund allocations to Karnataka.As the Governor exited the House, Congress leader BK Hariprasad was seen attempting to stop him, even as opposition and treasury benches traded sharp accusations, plunging the joint session into chaos.Reacting strongly, IT and BT minister Priyank Kharge accused the Governor of acting at the behest of the BJP. “Who is violating Articles 176 and 163? Everything stated in the Governor’s speech is factual. There is not a single lie, yet he does not want to read it. Has the Governor’s office become a BJP office?” Kharge asked.He also took aim at BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R Ashok, saying the party was selectively invoking constitutional provisions without understanding their spirit.

The BJP, in turn, accused the Congress government of politicising the Governor’s address and using the House to mount an attack on the Centre.Speaker strikes conciliatory noteKarnataka legislative assembly Speaker UT Khadar sought to play down the confrontation, asserting that there was no institutional breakdown.“Constitutional bodies will support each other. The Governor’s office is a constitutional body. There is no conflict between the Governor and the government,” he said, appealing for calm amid the uproar.Experts flag constitutional breachHowever, constitutional experts warned that the Governor’s action could invite legal scrutiny. PD Thankappan Acharya, former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, said the Constitution leaves little room for discretion on this issue.“Under Article 176(1), the Governor is required to address the House. He cannot refuse to do so. If he does, he is certainly acting against constitutional provisions,” Acharya said.A brewing Raj Bhavan–Vidhana Soudha clashThe confrontation had been building for days. The state government had sent the draft address to Raj Bhavan on Monday, but it was returned with instructions to delete 11 “contentious” paragraphs critical of the Union government. These included references to the proposed replacement of MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission–Gramin Act, as well as grievances over GST losses, reduced tax devolution and delayed irrigation funding.Chief minister Siddaramaiah deputed a ministerial delegation led by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil to persuade the Governor to go ahead with the address. While the government agreed to modify seven of the disputed paragraphs to address “technical issues”, it refused to drop the paragraph on MGNREGA, calling it vital to safeguarding Karnataka’s interests.Late on Wednesday night, Siddaramaiah convened a meeting of senior officials and legal experts to explore possible legal options, including whether the Governor’s refusal amounted to neglect of constitutional duty.Precedents add fuel to the debateThe Karnataka episode follows similar confrontations in other Opposition-ruled states. In recent days, governors in Tamil Nadu and Kerala either skipped portions of the address or walked out entirely, prompting debates on the limits of gubernatorial discretion. Legal experts note that while a Governor may express reservations, the Constitution mandates that the address to the joint sitting must be delivered, even if the government subsequently tables the full text in the House.With the Governor’s walkout now on record, the political temperature in Karnataka has risen sharply, setting the stage for a possible legal and constitutional showdown between Raj Bhavan and the elected government.