Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal
How a Haryana Governor had helped in installing a minority Govt-Role of Haryana Governors.
Extracts from my upcoming book on politics, culture and governance of Haryana titled “Murky politics of Haryana.
Guvs becoming part of politics to topple elected govts says SC.-Four decades back then Haryana Governor, G.D. Tapase had installed a minority Govt. misusing his powers for which his face was blackened by an angry citizen.
Referring to the decision of the Maharashtra Governor, B.S. Koshhyari asking then chief minister Udhav Thackeray to face a floor test when his party Shiv Sena was imploding with rebellion, Supreme Court had observed that revolt was an internal matter of the party and the Governor has misused his position.
Koshyari has perhaps taken cue from then Haryana Governor, G.D.T apase who had installed Bhajan Lal ,leader of Congress legislature party as C.M, although his party didn’t have the majority of legislators
Role of Governors has been controversial but the most controversial was the role of G.D. Tapase.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.
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Scene now shifts to 21st May,1982 when the results of elections of Haryana assembly just held .has started coming and it was clear that Lok Dal headed by Devi Lal with the support of BJP and independents was emerging towards majority for forming government. By 22nd May it was absolutely sure that the Lok Dal ministry was going to be sworn in and .Tapase had even asked Devi Lal to prove his majority in Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh.
Yet on 23rd evening the entire country was shocked to hear the news that Tapase had sworn in Bhajan Lal, leader of Congress legislature party as C.M and had asked him to prove his majority on the floor of the house within a month, a day before Devi Lal was to prove his majority.
Rest is history as Bhajan Lal has proved his majority on floor of the house by using state machinery engineering large scale defection from Lok Dal and independent legislators promising them ministerial jobs and other offices of profit.
In Haryana Bhawan New-Delhi,s air conditioned suit Bhajan Lal along with selected officers and close aids was perturbed at the thought of what may happen to him the next day when Devi Lal will parade his MLA,s before the governor and was making frantic efforts through his lobby to contact PM,Indira Gandhi who was annoyed with him for poor performance of the party in the elections,
Ultimately Bhajan Lal succeeded in winning the confidence of Madam and necessary instructions were given to G.D. Tapase .With renewed confidence Bhajan Lal air dashed to Chandigarh in a special plane of Dhir ender Braham Chari.
Bhajan Lal pleaded with Tapse to swear him in as CM as he was the leader of the single largest party. What transpired between them is not known but Tease swore him as CM,without even waiting for counting the opposition MLA, the next day and gave him one months’ time to prove his majority .
