Murder of democracy in Karnataka: Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: Continuing its tirade against the BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has said that the Karnataka governor’s decision to invite BS Yeddyurappa to form the government was “a murder of democracy”.

“The party with the biggest strength should be asked to form the government but what happened in Karnataka is a murder of democracy,” Thackeray said at a party meeting in Ulhasnagar on Thursday night. Questioning the decision of governor Vajubhai Vala, Thackeray asked how someone could have faith on a “person who has been a party worker since his Jan Sangh days”.

The Sena president said that the events in Karnataka showed that decisions were being taken from Delhi. “If you are going to appoint chief ministers in such a manner, then why hold elections? Appoint the chief minister from Delhi. Also Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not have to interrupt his foreign tours to campaign during elections if CMs are appointed from Delhi,” he said.


He further taunted the BJP by saying that the party always talks about building the Ram temple whenever elections come and said that if the party has “guts”, it should build the Ram temple the same “brazen” manner in which it decided to come to power in Karnataka. Thackeray had earlier questioned the BJP’s victory in Karnataka by saying that questions remain on the use of EVMs and challenged the BJP to hold elections through ballot papers.

He also sarcastically said that the BJP does well in states where it is not in power as people have not experienced its reign. BJP leaders for now is not responding to such remarks. Sources said they have been told by the top brass to lie low as they don’t want to join issue with the Sena since they are hopeful of stitching up an alliance with the Sena later.