A political and constitutional controversy unfolded in Karnataka on Thursday after Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot delivered an unusually brief two-line address to the joint session of the state legislature, triggering strong reactions from the Congress-led government and lawmakers inside the House.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the Governor of violating constitutional norms by refusing to read the full address prepared by the elected government. He alleged that Gehlot had “acted like a puppet of the Central Government” and failed to uphold the duties expected of a constitutional authority.
The Governor concluded his customary address moments after it began. After greeting members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, he read just two lines in Hindi, stating that the government was committed to doubling the economic, social and physical development of the state, before ending with “Jai Hind, Jai Karnataka.” The sudden conclusion left members of the House visibly agitated.
Congress legislators immediately protested the move, raising “Shame, Shame” slogans on the floor and accusing the Governor of undermining democratic traditions and the authority of the elected government. The disruption continued for several minutes as lawmakers demanded an explanation for the truncated speech.
Speaking to the media later, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Governor had not discharged his responsibilities as per the Constitution. He warned that the state government would examine all legal options, including the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court, to challenge what it views as unconstitutional conduct.
According to sources in the government, the dispute stemmed from objections raised by the Governor to certain portions of the speech prepared by the state cabinet. The address reportedly contained 11 paragraphs that were critical of the Union government and its policies, including references to issues such as the alleged weakening of MGNREGA and concerns over the devolution of central funds to states. These references are believed to have prompted the Governor to demand deletions, which the government declined.
The confrontation had been building since Wednesday, when Governor Gehlot initially refused to deliver the customary address, leading to a stalemate over the opening of the legislature session. A delegation led by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, along with Advocate General K Shashi Kiran Shetty and the Chief Minister’s legal advisor A S Ponna, met the Governor in an attempt to resolve the impasse, but the talks did not yield a breakthrough.
Despite the growing tension, the Governor was formally received at the steps of the state secretariat by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Assembly Speaker U T Khader, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, and Minister H K Patil, reflecting adherence to protocol even amid political disagreement.
The episode has once again brought the spotlight on the evolving relationship between Governors and elected state governments, particularly in non-BJP-ruled states, where similar confrontations have become increasingly frequent. Political observers say the Karnataka incident raises serious questions about federal principles and the limits of gubernatorial discretion.
With the Congress government considering legal recourse, the matter is expected to escalate further in the coming days. The outcome could have wider implications for constitutional practice and the balance of power between Raj Bhavans and state governments across the country.