It has been almost two decades since a government in Karnataka completed its full term after holding its last Assembly session.
The last chief minister to achieve this rare feat was Veerappa Moily, now Union petroleum minister, who weathered fiery dissident activity and managed to complete his term in December, 1994. The ensuing polls saw the Congress losing with H.D. Deve Gowda becoming CM who did not last long and went on to become PM. Since then, no chief minister has completed his full five-year term with even S.M. Krishna calling for polls a few months before completing his tenure.
The big question on everyone’s minds is whether chief minister Jagadish Shettar will be able “to do a Moily” by surviving the session for the next one week and making sure his government lasts for the remaining three months of its tenure before polls in May. For this, he will have to beat back the Opposition demand for his resignation and muster the numbers to get his maiden Budget passed when it is put to vote on the last day of the session.
It’s quite sure that the focus of discussion during the session beginning on Monday, will not be development works or poll sops but whether the government has the right to continue with its majority in doubt.
After the governor’s customary address to the legislature on Monday, the proceedings are sure to turn stormy and could even jeopardise Mr Shettar’s chances of presenting his Budget.
For the BJP, the Budget is extremely important to revive its sagging image. The party, which was mired in controversies and scams for the last four-and-a-half years, is planning to present a Budget to prove to the electorate that it is committed to development. However, Mr Shettar has the unenviable task of holding his flock together till the session concludes. Sources said the party is burning the midnight oil to ensure BJP members outnumber the Opposition in the House through the session.