TCO News Desk
Bengaluru, January 22, 2026
In a dramatic standoff that has ignited fresh accusations of constitutional overreach, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot delivered only two lines of his customary address to a joint session of the state legislature before walking out of the Assembly chamber on Thursday morning. The abrupt exit, amid chants and protests from ruling Congress legislators, has plunged the state into a political maelstrom, with the government decrying it as a blatant violation of constitutional norms.
The incident unfolded shortly after 11 a.m. at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of Karnataka's legislature, marking the opening of the session for the year. Governor Gehlot, received by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, and Law Minister H.K. Patil, ascended the podium to a packed house comprising members from both the Legislative Assembly and Council.
True to the escalating tensions from the previous day, the Governor dispensed with the bulk of the 30-minute speech drafted by the Siddaramaiah Cabinet. Instead, he read just the concluding lines: “My government is committed to doubling the speed of economic and social progress in the State. Jai Hind, Jai Karnataka.” With that, he declared the address complete and exited the chamber, prompting immediate uproar from the treasury benches. Congress MLAs raised slogans accusing the Governor of undermining democratic processes, while the opposition BJP remained relatively restrained, observing the chaos.
The flashpoint traces back to Wednesday, when Governor Gehlot conveyed his objections to 11 paragraphs in the government-prepared speech. These sections sharply criticized the BJP-led Union government on several fronts, including the alleged dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) through the contentious VB-G RAM (G) Act, delays in drought relief funds, shortfalls in GST compensation, and perceived inequities in the 15th Finance Commission's devolution formula. The Governor demanded the complete excision of these portions, viewing them as politically charged and factually contentious.
A high-level delegation from the state government, including Minister Patil, met the Governor late Wednesday to negotiate. While the administration agreed to excise a few specific sentences deemed overly critical of the VB-G RAM (G) Act, it firmly rejected wholesale deletions, arguing that the speech reflected the Cabinet's policy priorities under Article 163 of the Constitution. By nightfall, the impasse persisted, setting the stage for Thursday's confrontation.
Reacting swiftly, Karnataka Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge—often seen as a key Congress strategist—lashed out at Raj Bhavan, accusing the Governor of flouting constitutional duties. "Who is creating this conflict? Who is violating Articles 176 and 163?" Kharge questioned in a media briefing. He emphasized that the speech contained "only public facts, not lies," and revealed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had personally briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi via letter on the matter. "The Governor is duty-bound to read the speech. Even if one paragraph is a lie, let him not read that. But refusing the entire speech is against his constitutional mandate," Kharge asserted, vowing that the full text would be tabled before the public for scrutiny.
Speaker Khader, tasked with maintaining order, sought to project an image of reconciliation amid the din. "Any issue regarding this will be solved cordially. Discipline will be maintained. I’m sure that everything will run very well," he told reporters outside the chamber. He added, "We have full confidence that the government and the Governor are together. There’s no conflict at all. Karnataka will be a model to the country on how to take the Governor and the government forward together."
Opposition voices were more muted, though a Congress MLA, speaking to NDTV, expressed unease: "Don't think this is right." BJP leaders, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, have yet to issue formal statements, but party insiders hinted at viewing the episode as an internal Congress imbroglio exacerbated by the ruling party's aggressive rhetoric against the Centre.
This episode is the latest in a series of high-profile clashes between governors and opposition-ruled state governments, underscoring deepening fault lines in India's federal structure. Just two days prior, on January 20, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi staged a similar walkout from the state Assembly, citing "inaccuracies" in his address. In Kerala, Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar faced backlash for allegedly omitting sections of his speech after his suggestions were ignored. Critics, including constitutional experts, warn that such gubernatorial interventions risk eroding the ceremonial role of the office, potentially tilting the balance toward partisan interference.
As the joint session adjourned in disarray, all eyes are on how the Siddaramaiah government responds—whether through legal recourse or public mobilization. With the Budget session looming, this "two-line tantrum," as one Congress leader quipped, threatens to overshadow legislative priorities and further polarize Karnataka's fractious political landscape.
For More News Updates Follow Us On Www.tconews.in
https://x.com/ANI/status/2014213926066758057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2014213926066758057%7Ctwgr%5E922e29e88169e9eecf24485c24f038cb157e0ec8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-24989297221157427817.ampproject.net%2F2512221826001%2Fframe.html
