Furore in RS as Cong kicks up storm on Manipur, Goa

The Rajya Sabha faced repeated adjournments throughout Wednesday after the Congress protested the “stealing of mandate” in Manipur and Goa where it was not invited to form government despite being the single largest party.

Congress leaders cited rulings by the constitution benches of the Supreme Court and claimed that the governor was bound to invite the party with the largest number of legislators to form government and prove majority on the floor of the House.

The party alleged that the governors in the two states were “acting at the behest” of the Centre. Congress MPs stormed into the Well of the House shouting slogans, forcing the chair to adjourn proceedings repeatedly. The recently concluded Assembly elections threw up a hung assembly in Goa and Manipur with Congress emerging as the single largest party.

Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention after his notice under rule 267

Manipur and Goa have witnessed stealing of MLAs and stealing of mandate... The governor is acting at the behest of the government...

— Anand Sharma, Cong leader

seeking setting aside of the business was converted, Anand Sharma (Congress) said the people’s mandate through the elections in a democracy should be accepted and respected by all.

“The incumbent chief minister (in Manipur) was in a position to form the government” but the governor ignored his claim and called the BJP to form the government, Mr Sharma said.

He said the legal position has been established through two judgements of the constitution benches of SC which have “made it absolutely clear that if there is no clear mandate, the governor is obliged to invite the leader of the largest party to form government and prove the majority.”

“The mandate has been violated,” he said, adding Manipur and Goa have witnessed “stealing of MLAs and stealing of mandate”. The governor “is acting at the behest of the government,” he alleged.

However, objecting to the reference about governor by Mr Sharma, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asked the chair that references on the conduct of a person in high authority cannot be made without a substantive motion and should be expunged.

However, as the Congress MPs decided not to relent and trooped into the Well raising slogans against the government, the chair adjourned the House.