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Round The States
New Delhi, 24 January
2026
Governor-CM Face-Off
DRAMA IN 3 NON-BJP ASSEMBLIES
By Insaf
The face-off between Governors and Chief Ministers in Opposition States sadly
has become a norm rather than an exception. The week saw Tamil Nadu, Kerala and
Karnataka Assemblies witnessing fresh confrontation. On the opening day of the
first session on Wednesday last, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi declined to read
his customary speech prepared by the DMK government and walked out of the Assembly—for
the 4th consecutive year. A press release by Raj Bhavan said his microphone was
‘repeatedly switched off’ and he was ‘not allowed to speak’. He claimed the
address prepared by the government, made it untenable for him to deliver as it was
“laced with unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements”, including inflated
investment figures, issues like alarming rise in sexual violence, drug abuse
among youth, suicides, Dalit atrocities being ignored, etc. Chief Minister
Stalin hit back by reading out a resolution in the House condemning Ravi’s actions
with the Speaker endorsing it and reading out the 65-page Tamil version of the
Governor’s address!Stalin also said his party would make efforts to amend the
Constitution to eliminate the practice of the Governor delivering a speech at
the start of the year.
* *
Policy Omission
A day earlier, the Kerala
Assembly’s Budget session got off on a wrong note too. Governor Rajendra
Vishwanath Arlekar omitted parts of his policy address, which included portions
targeting the BJP government at the Centre. Such as “Despite these social and
institutional achievements, Kerala continues to face severe fiscal stress
arising from a series of adverse Union Government actions that undermine the
constitutional principles of fiscal federalism,” and “Bills passed by state
legislatures have remained pending for prolonged periods. My government has
approached the Supreme Court on these issues, which have been referred to a
Constitution Bench.” However, Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan later read out the
parts which had been skipped saying the Governor had deviated from the policy
address, which had been ratified by the state Cabinet.He urged the Speaker to
consider the policy address, copies of which were distributed among members, as
‘authentic’ policy address and the latter obliged.
* *
Minutes Address
Karnataka Assembly followed
suit on Thursday last. Governor T. Gehlot refused to read the ruling Congress
government’s prepared address to the Assembly and concluded his customary speech
in minutes. Said he: “I extend a warm welcome to all of you to the joint
session of the State legislature. I am extremely pleased to address one more
joint session of the Karnataka legislature. My government is firmly committed
to doubling the pace of the state's economic, social, and physical development.
Jai Hind. Jai Karnataka,” and walked out. Some Congress MLAs shouting slogans tried
to gherao him at the exit door but were removed by security staff.Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah reacted: “Today, instead of reading the speech prepared
by the Cabinet, he delivered the speech prepared by himself. This is against
the provisions of the Indian Constitution… Therefore, it’s not going to be Governor’s
speech…” A day earlier Gehlot had refused to deliver the customary address,
taking exception to references to the Centre ‘repealing’ MGNREGA. Prompting Siddaramaiah
to accuse him of being Centre’s ‘puppet’ and asserting option of ‘approaching
the Supreme Court or not.’Be that as it may, it’s unfortunate the three incidents
in non-BJP states have escalated into a significant, ongoing threat to the
country's federal structure!
* * * * *
UP’s Religious Row
Uttar Pradesh is
embroiled in a bizarre controversy. It has erupted over a notice issued to
religious leader Swami Avimukteshwaran and Saraswati, head of JyotishPeeth of
Badrinath, over the use of the ‘Shankaracharya’ title. The tug of war started
during the Magh Mela, a month-long religious fair where devotees assemble at
the Triveni Sangam, for a holy dip. The swami tried to reach the Sangam in his
chariot for bathing but mela administration did not allow him, ‘manhandled’ his
supporters and so he staged a protest, demanding an apology as the police
action was an “insult of Shankaracharya”. The administration hit back issuing a
notice questioning him for using the title, even though an appeal related to
the same is sub judice in the Supreme Court. On Wednesday last, Saraswati sent
an eight-page reply to the authorities demanding they withdraw the notice or
face legal action. He asserted he was the “Shankaracharya” of the Jyotish Peeth.
The Opposition has stepped in and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP’s love
for Hinduism was ‘fake’, and now it had been established as a fact, adding
Chief Minister Yogi must apologise to the seer. Congress condemned ill
treatment of the seer and accused Yogi of ‘disrupting a centuries-old religious
tradition by not allowing him to take the customary royal bath’. Politics
aside, the big question is whether this dispute, resulting from the BJP’s
approach, might affect its relationship with its core Hindu constituents,
notably upper-caste voters who regard Shankaracharyas with significant
reverence.
* * * * *
Delhi’s BJP Show
The BJP headquarters
in Delhi was in a festive move on Tuesday last. The saffron party anointed its
12th national president, the youngest so far, Nitin Nabin. He succeeds J
P Nadda, who in his outgoing speech listed the party’s achievements and set out
a road map his successor to expand the party’s influence in uncharted
territories, such as West Bengal and Kerala. The party with a difference stuck
to its tradition and had all the nominations
(37) for the post forNabin—consensus and no contest. Enthusing the gathering of
ministers, top party functionaries and cadres by his 40-minute speech, Prime
Minister Modi said while he is the Pradhan mantri, “when it comes to
party matters, I am a worker, and you (Nabin) are my boss… I have given an account of my work. He
will now write my CR (confidential report). I am awaiting his guidance.” He
described 45-year-old Nabin as a “millennial” which shall aid the party
to engage Gen Next. Importantly, his responsibilities are
not limited to BJP alone, ‘he has to take care of maintaining coordination with
all NDA friends.” Interestingly, Nabin has risen from the ranks, but few have heard
of him outside and his taking over the reins have surprised many. The big
question is whether he will be able to steer the party or the big brass will
run the show. Only time will tell. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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