Patna: Those who saw B.S. Yeddyurappa deliver an emotional speech in Karnataka before resigning could not have helped recall how similar it was to one Nitish Kumar had delivered in the Patna Assembly on March 10, 2000, before resigning after being chief minister for just one week.
"I remember I had gone with Rabri Devi to protest against then Governor Vinod Pande's decision to invite Nitish Kumar to form the government," said RJD national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari, pointing out that the institution of governors has been misused since 1967.
Jharkhand was still a part of Bihar in 2000 and the Assembly had 324 seats. The elections threw up a hung house. The RJD had 124 seats, the Congress 23 and the NDA 122 seats; no formation had a clear majority. The NDA staked claim on the basis of support of 12 JMM MLAs and Independents. Nitish was given 10 days to prove his majority in the Assembly.
Unlike in Karnataka, RJD, Congress and Independent MLAs were not flown to any resort to escape poaching. But they were virtually put on "house arrest" at a hotel in Patna with then RJD MP and Siwan strongman Mohammad Shahbuddin and his men "guarding them".
Nitish had relied on the Congress to back him as it had fought on an anti-Lalu plank. But the Congress decided to back the RJD. Nitish delivered an emotional speech attacking the Congress and then announced his resignation.
"History has only repeated itself in Karnataka. The Opposition had demanded sacking of then Governor Vinod Pande, today there are cries for Vajubhai Vala's sacking," said a senior RJD leader.
The JDU was quiet on the development in Karnataka, but deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi of said: "In 2005, the then Jharkhand governor gave the Congress-JMM alliance 19 days to prove their majority. The BJP did not rush to the Supreme Court then. The Opposition remembers democracy only when they lose power. Vajubhai has not done anything wrong in calling the largest block," he said.
"Truth can never be defeated. Truth will always defeat a lie or liar" Tejashwi Yadav tweeted. He has been invited to Kumaraswamy's oath-taking on Monday and is likely to attend.
"The Congress should give more respect to regional parties," a senior RJD leader said.
