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Karnataka versus Gujarat: A PIECE FROM HISTORY

A PIECE FROM HISTORY

By Deepak Parvatiyar

An analogy is being drawn between the 1996 Shankarsinh Vaghela episode of Gujarat and the present political situation in Karnataka.

As a journalist who covered the Gujarat episode then, I do watch the Karnataka scene with interest. Much has already been said about the present Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala and Janata Dal Secular patriarch HD Deve Gowda now. It is being said that Vala has now paid Gowda back in his own coin by denying the Congress-JD(S) combine an opportunity to form the government.

I recall in 1996 Vala was the Gujarat BJP president as well as the state finance minister while Gowda was the Prime Minister. Those were the days of political turmoil. Particularly in Gujarat, it was the BJP rebel Shankarsinh Vaghela, who had virtually split the BJP into two camps. His successful first revolt in 1995 had resulted in the ouster of the then Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel. He was replaced by BJP's Suresh Mehta. Part of this compromise formula was also that Narendra Modi was asked to leave Gujarat.

However in a year's time an irrepressible Vaghela revolted again. He claimed before the governor, Krishna Pal Singh -- an old Congress hand, that Mehta had lost the confidence of his MLAs. Singh then asked Mehta to prove his majority within three days.

The very next day the Gujarat assembly speaker Harish Chandra Patel -- a BJP hand, had to be hospitalized because of a terminal ailment and on the day when the confidence motion was taken up in the House, Congress's Chandu Dabhi, who was the deputy speaker (as per the convention then, the deputy speaker's post was given to the main Opposition party's nominee), officiated as the Speaker.

Unlike in Karnataka today, it must be emphasized that Dabhi was not a pro tem Speaker. As soon as the voting started the Congress as well as Vaghela's men were seen creating ruckus in the House. Soon it became a free for all. Mikes and chairs were flying. Amid the din the acting speaker hurriedly ruled that Mehta had lost the confidence motion and left the House. Soon thereafter ruffians took charge as  protests spread outside the House. Assembly property was damaged even outside the Speaker's chamber. Journalists too were not spared. One was left with broken limbs and many others escaped with minor injuries.

As it was, by afternoon the journalists made a headway to the Raj Bhawan where they, including yours truly, staged a sit in in protest and signed a petition claiming total collapse of law and order. This petition was faxed by the governor to the union home ministry. That was a godsend opportunity for the Gowda government at the Centre. Within moments the state assembly was placed under suspended animation and the state put under President's rule. In between, Mehta and Vala alongwith some other senior BJP leaders (I can't recall everyone's name)did call on the Governor crying foul over the acting Speaker's ruling but it was too late and to no avail. Singh did not buzz.

After almost six months of suspended animation, Vaghela was finally able to break the BJP and form his government with the outside support of the Congress. But constantly under pressure from a demanding Congress, he could last as CM only for a year and thereafter annointed his loyalist Dilip Parekh as CM. But their government could not last long and the BJP under Keshubhai and Modi,  then he returned triumphantly and is ruling Gujarat ever since.

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