Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the Governor’s action “unconstitutional,” alleging that Gehlot acted in violation of Articles 176 and 163 of the Constitution, which require the Governor to deliver the address prepared by the elected Council of Ministers. “Instead of reading the Cabinet-approved speech, the Governor delivered his own remarks and walked out. This is against constitutional propriety,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
The incident occurred on the opening day of the Assembly session, which began on January 22 and will continue until January 31. A day earlier, the Governor had declined to address the House altogether. On Thursday, he read a brief statement outlining the government’s commitment to development before leaving without completing the address.
According to the state government, the flashpoint was paragraph 11 of the draft speech, which criticised the Centre for allegedly weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by reducing budgetary allocations, thereby affecting rural livelihoods. Siddaramaiah said the Governor objected to this reference, prompting the truncated address.
The Governor’s sudden departure sparked chaos in the House. Congress legislators raised slogans such as “Shame, shame” and attempted to approach the Governor, while BJP members countered with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” Security personnel intervened to prevent further escalation. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil later accused the Governor of disrespecting the National Anthem by leaving without standing for it, a charge the opposition strongly contested.
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok accused the Congress government of orchestrating disorder and disrespecting the constitutional office of the Governor, calling the special session a “Black Day.” In contrast, Congress leaders including Minister Priyank Kharge described the Governor’s conduct as an affront to the Assembly and the people of Karnataka.
Constitutional experts note that while Article 176 mandates the Governor to address the legislature, the validity of the session is not affected if the address is incomplete. Precedents exist, including in Tamil Nadu, where the House adopted the Cabinet-approved speech as the Governor’s address despite similar disputes.
The episode mirrors recent Governor–government face-offs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, underscoring a broader pattern of friction between Raj Bhavans and elected state governments. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that Governors cannot act arbitrarily in legislative matters, a judgment that is now being cited by the Karnataka government as it weighs its next steps.
