Tamil Nadu-like legal battle if governor continues to sit on bills: Priyank Kharge

Bengaluru: In an indication of the escalating feud between the government and Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday that the government would have to wage a ‘Tamil Nadu-like’ legal battle against Gehlot, if he sat on Bills passed by the legislature.

“Let it come (back). We will evaluate. What’s new in this? In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, they have used the Governor’s office as branch offices for BJP and Keshava Krupa (state RSS headquarters). What can the governments do? We will send our clarifications. If the Governor isn’t convinced, we will have to approach the Supreme Court like Tamil Nadu,” Priyank told reporters.

The Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University Bill, which the Governor has sent back for clarifications, intends to replace the Governor as the chancellor of the university.

When asked when the feud between the Raj Bhavan and the government would end, Priyank said: “Who is responsible for ending it (feud)? Can we bring out a bill just like that? It is discussed in the legislature and there will be voting. If the Governor is making decisions by violating the legislature’s decisions, is it right?”

Priyank, who is also a government spokesperson, accused the Governor of “murdering” democracy by overruling the legislature’s decisions by listening to the Centre.