The ongoing conflict between the Karnataka government and Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has intensified, with the governor repeatedly sending letters to the state government seeking explanations on various issues. This “letter war” has led to mounting tension between Raj Bhavan and the government, with the state government now responding by passing a Cabinet resolution to stop replying directly to the governor’s letters.
During a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on September 25, a significant decision was made Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh has been instructed not to respond to any letters from the governor. Instead, the Cabinet itself will address such communications. The Chief Secretary has been directed to bring any letters from the governor to the attention of the Cabinet for review and a collective decision rather than replying directly.
This move formally escalates the ongoing dispute between the governor and the state government. By deciding that the Cabinet will handle all replies, the government has signaled its resistance to what it perceives as interference or undue pressure from the governor’s office.
After the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister H K Patil clarified the decision. He stated that the governor’s letters often demanded immediate responses, which the government considered inappropriate and unnecessary. He also explained that any letter from the governor will now be handled according to established protocols, with a collective Cabinet decision on how to respond.
“The governor has been writing letters with impatience, expecting information to be sent immediately,” said Patil. “This decision has been made after reviewing all regulations, and the Chief Secretary has been informed that any letters from the governor will be handled by the Cabinet, not individually by the secretariat.”
The decision highlights the growing tension between the state government and the governor’s office, which has become a highly visible power struggle in Karnataka’s political landscape. Over recent months, Governor Gehlot has been issuing frequent letters seeking explanations and demanding action on various complaints against the government, which the administration views as excessive interference.
This conflict appears to be escalating, as the state government has decided to push back and involve the Cabinet in all future interactions with the governor.
In a separate but related development, the Karnataka Cabinet also withdrew open permission for CBI investigations in the state. The government had previously allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to freely investigate cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal cases under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. However, the state government has now chosen to revoke this permission, citing concerns about potential misuse of the CBI.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister Patil expressed concern about the impartiality of the CBI and the potential for its misuse in political matters. “There is a concern that the CBI is being misused for political purposes. Many cases assigned to the CBI have seen no progress, with charge sheets not being submitted and investigations delayed,” Patil said.
Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil says, "We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. They… pic.twitter.com/ZsQnnBcirb
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024
The move to withdraw the CBI’s open investigation permissions is seen as another assertion of the state government’s autonomy in handling its affairs without what it perceives as undue central government interference.
These developments signal a growing rift between the Karnataka state government and the central authorities. With the BJP at the centre and the Congress-led state government at odds, these confrontations are expected to increase in intensity. The Cabinet’s decision not to reply directly to the governor’s letters and the withdrawal of CBI permissions could have significant political implications, both within Karnataka and at the national level.
As the conflict evolves, all eyes will be on how the governor and central government respond to these moves, and whether it leads to further escalation or an eventual resolution.
Former speaker and congress leader KB Koliwada has said, “Let CM Siddaramaiah resign for the party’s sake, no matter how blameless he may be. Let him become CM again after coming out clean. There are 136 MLAs in the party supporting CM Siddaramaiah. He should resign from the party’s point of view and clear his name.”
“Assembly elections are taking place in different states, and the BJP is trying to embarrass the Congress. Siddaramaiah is causing embarrassment to the party. I have seen many Chief Ministers in my 50 years of political life. Among them, CM Siddaramaiah ranks number 1 for working without a blemish. The BJP is now trying to exploit the situation,” Koliwada said, adding, “PM Modi is playing tricks to embarrass the party.”
In response to Koliwada’s statement at Vidhana Soudha, DCM DK Shivakumar said, “He is the president of the state Congress party, and I say there is no proposal for the Chief Minister to resign. This is all a BJP-JDS conspiracy. The opposition parties cannot tolerate the five guarantee schemes and the growth of the Congress. The Chief Minister is from the Congress party, and there is no chance of him resigning. We support the CM from Delhi to the villages. PM Modi is playing politics. Why has he kept his tainted ministers in the Cabinet?” he questioned.
Senior leader Koliwada expressed his opinion, but CM Siddaramaiah responded, “There is no question of my resignation. “Did Prime Minister Modi, the then CM, resign during the Godhra riots case? Wasn’t HD Kumaraswamy part of the Narendra Modi government? He is out on bail—has he resigned? No, he hasn’t. I, too, will not resign,” Siddaramaiah said.
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