Karnataka politics: Amit Shah trolls Rahul over ‘defeat of democracy’ statement

A war of words has erupted between the top politicians of Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the new chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday.

Bengaluru, May 17: A war of words has erupted between the top politicians of Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the new chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday.

The election results in the southern state threw a fractured mandate on Tuesday as no political party managed to get the majority. On Saturday, voting for 222 Assembly constituencies took place. The voting for two remaining seats--both in Bengaluru--will take place later.

Out of the 222 seats, the BJP won 104, the Congress 78 and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) with its alliance partner the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 38. The remaining two seats--one won by an Independent candidate and the second by the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP).

After it disastrous performance in the elections, the Congress quickly stitched an alliance with the JD(S) to stake their claim to form the next government. The BJP also took the same step and met Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala. Ultimately, after a midnight hearing by the Supreme Court on a plea submitted by the Congress-JD(S) alliance to stop the swearing-in ceremony of Yeddyurappa, the BJP formed its government in the state.

The apex court refused to interfere with the decision of the governor to call Yeddyurappa first to form the government. Now, Yeddyurappa has 15 days to prove his majority on the floor of the house.

Criticising the BJP's alleged attempt to make a "mockery of our Constitution", Congress president Rahul Gandhi stated that "India will mourn the defeat of democracy".

"The BJP's irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn't have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy," Rahul wrote on Twitter.

Taking a quick note of the allegations, BJP president Amit Shah reminded his counterpart in the Congress about the grand old party's decision to impose the "horrific emergency" in the country in 1975.

"President of the Congress obviously doesn't remember the glorious history of his party. The legacy of Mr. Rahul Gandhi's Party is the horrific Emergency, blatant misuse of Article 356, subverting the courts, media and civil society," Shah tweeted.

The BJP president did not stop at that and said the mandate was for his party in Karnataka.

"Who has the people's mandate in Karnataka? The BJP, which has won 104 seats. Or Congress which dropped to 78 seats, whose own CM and Ministers lost by big margins. JD(S) who won only 37 seats and lost their deposits on several others. People are wise to realise," Shah added.

The BJP president stated that it was "shameful" on the part of the Congress to ally with the JD(S) in Karnataka.

"The 'Murder of Democracy' happens the minute a desperate Congress made an 'opportunist' offer to the JD(S), not for Karnataka's welfare but for their petty political gains. Shameful!" Shah tweeted.