RIP Constitution

The situation in Maharashtra has gone from surprising, to brazen to bizzare to shocking. India faces an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

If the way President rule was imposed in Maharashtra on 12th November was brazen flouting of well set constitutional standards by the Governor and the President (For a context read this post) then the way the President's rule was revoked and devendra fadnavis was swore in as the CM has made the constitution irrelevant.

Figure this out
** It is believed that the deal with Mr. Ajit Pawar and the BJP was finalised late night around 12:00 PM

** Governor koshiyari canceled his travel plans next morning.

** He orders the secretary at 2:00 AM to revoke  President's rule and to set up swearing in for the new CM.

** Till then there is no meeting with Fadnavis or formal claim of stake at Govt formation. It is a mystery as to how or what basis the governor assure himself that stable government can now be formed - the basis of imposing president rule in the first place.

** There is no cabinet meeting or a proposal. Prime minister uses a special provision (rule 21) to revoke the President's rule. This provision is to be used in case of emergency. It is obvious that there was no emergency - accept that the BJP itself was not sure for how long this deal will be able to stand on itself (stable government - my foot).

** Once again the President does not feel even the need to consult constitutional experts fora advice on the course of action. He simply signs on the dotted line.

** At 5:47 in the morning president rule is revoked (which was announced at 9:00 AM)

** At 7:50 swearing in of Fadnavis as the CM and Mr. Ajit Pawar as the Deputy CM is done in presence of just one news agency ANI - not even doordarshan (the state broadcating agency) is invited.

** You think this itself is enough of murder of the constitution. No.

** In the morning there are reaction from opposition - NCP chief announces that NCP is not a part of the deal.

** Now the governor koshiyari, who did not even wait for his own deadline in imposing the president rule on the 12th Nov., sets the date of 30th Nov for the floor test - giving another week to the CM to cobble together (read horse trade) a majority. This despite the clearly set guideline by the SC in the Karnataka case that teh floor test has to happen within 24 hours.

** The opposition camp goes to the SC demanding an immediate floor test.

** Even the SC has given 24 more hours for hearing of the case. Let's hope that the SC which is now the last hope for our democracy in this matter stands to the principles of the constitution.

So in short Governor may not be sure whether fadnavis has the majority and yet swore-in the CM and then allowed them disproportionate time, President did not wait to check on anything and Prime minister bypassed the cabinet.

In short the message to us voters is simple - you vote whichever way - only one party will form Government by Saam (threat), Daam (Bribe), Dand (using government agencies to corner and bully opposition) or Bhed (by misusing constitutional institutions and posts to meet one's ends). 


Yes !! democracy in India is on a ventilator. A toady President and a foxy Governor has ensured that the Constitution of India is dead. We are now firmly and completely in the grip of shameless power grabbing and greed of an Honest corruption free Government (pun fully intended).