LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | The Congress resurrection and the SC’s revival of democracy

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Dated 21 May 2018

To

The Editor

TNT – The Northeast Today

Respected Editor,

The recently concluded Karnataka verdict was anything short of exciting- with its dramatic exits, surprise coalition and arguably the shortest chief ministerial tenure in the country's history.

As the results of the elections unfolded on our television screens on May 19, it was easy to see why journalists had prematurely declared that the BJP was the winner. The party was clearly the single largest party by a long shot. The BJP's repeated victories, with the party being in power either in isolation or in coalition in as many as 20 states, only reinforced the thought that maybe the party really is invincible.

The surprise post-poll coalition between the Congress and the JD(S) showing that they had a clear majority of 117 seats was perhaps made possible by the fact that unlike the BJP, the Congress made sure that they upheld constitutional norms in the process. While the BJP ceased to work on an alternative strategy and instead appeared to be more motivated by victory and its 'invincible' tag, the Congress took the help of the Constitution itself.

While the fiasco brings to light the importance and relevance of smaller and regional parties, the saga ultimately brings me to the incredible task executed by the country's Supreme Court. Declared a hero on social media following the elections, the judges of the apex court should be lauded not simply because they stayed up till the wee hours of the morning to come to a verdict but also because they proved that the Supreme Court can, despite its own controversies, deliver nuanced and straight-forward instructions such as the one that mattered most on the day:  its refusal to stay the governor's decision to swear in Yeddyurappa and its order directed to him to prove his majority the very next day, making bribes or any such shenanigans impossible.

Thanking you,

Name with-held on request