Bengaluru, Jan 30 (NationPress) Senior BJP MLA and former Minister S. Suresh Kumar has called on political factions in the state to engage in discussions regarding the future of the Governor's address to the joint session of the legislature. He emphasized that Karnataka ought to spearhead this critical dialogue.

While addressing the House on Friday during the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, Suresh Kumar articulated, “Karnataka has had 18 Governors, some of whom are fondly remembered while others are noted for less favorable reasons. The Governor’s address appears to be a remnant of colonial rule, prompting the need for reevaluation. Is it still significant today? A neighboring Chief Minister has even suggested pursuing a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Governor’s address,” he stated.

He noted that the meaning, purpose, and esteem of the Governor’s address have diminished over time. “The Governor speaks of 'my government', yet we often find ourselves criticizing the speech. Consequently, the Governor's office becomes a focal point of contention. We must deliberate on whether the Governor’s address remains necessary,” he asserted.

Suresh Kumar referenced Justice (retired) M. Rama Jois, a distinguished legal expert and former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand, who opposed the tradition. “Justice Jois argued that the practice of the Governor speaking in terms of 'my government' should cease,” he recalled.

“In my view, Karnataka should take the initiative to determine if the Governor’s address is warranted at all. If it is deemed necessary, we must define its purpose and content. A national conversation on this matter is essential. Enough is enough,” he stressed.

The Governor’s address should ideally showcase the government’s achievements and future plans. “However, the speech today is laden with political implications. Ironically, the content the Governor chose to omit was later disseminated by the government as advertisements, achieving its political aims,” he criticized.

Suresh Kumar also highlighted the political instability within the ruling Congress party. “Since August, there has been speculation about a 'November revolution', which later morphed into a 'December revolution', only to be postponed indefinitely. This instability is detrimental to the bureaucracy,” he remarked.

He added that bureaucrats are reluctant to make decisions amidst the leadership uncertainty. “Such instability is counterproductive for the development of any state,” he cautioned.

In a contrasting view, Suresh Kumar pointed out that while former US President Donald Trump declared the Indian economy was 'dead', Congress leaders echoed similar sentiments. However, a Congress representative from the state, addressing the Davos summit, asserted that the Indian economy is robust. When questioned about national leaders' positions, he declined to criticize his country on foreign soil. These contradictions are glaring,” he noted.

It is noteworthy that Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot recently opted not to deliver the customary address prepared by the Congress-led government to the joint session of the state assembly, limiting his remarks to a few lines and abruptly concluding, which led to dramatic scenes in the Assembly.

This occurrence has sparked significant controversy and further intensified the ongoing conflict between the Governor and the Congress-led government in Karnataka.