Bengaluru witnessed chaos in the Karnataka legislature on Thursday after Governor Thawarchand Gehlot walked out of the joint sitting of the Assembly and Council midway through his address. The Governor delivered only two lines from the cabinet-approved speech and refused to read the entire address, which led to a major political confrontation between the ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP.

During his brief address, the Governor said, “My government is committed to doubling the economic, social and physical development of the state. Jai Hind, Jai Karnataka.” After saying this, he left the House, creating a tense situation inside the legislature.

The walkout happened after a disagreement between Raj Bhavan and the Congress-led state government over 11 paragraphs in the speech. These paragraphs were critical of the central government and included references to changes in the rural employment guarantee framework, issues related to tax devolution, and fund allocations to Karnataka. Congress leaders expressed strong anger over the Governor’s decision to cut short the speech and raised slogans of “Shame Shame” inside the House.

As the Governor exited, Congress leader BK Hariprasad was seen trying to stop him, while members from both the opposition and treasury benches exchanged sharp accusations. The joint session soon turned chaotic.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Every new year, the Governor has to address the joint session of the Assembly, read the speech prepared by the Cabinet. This is a constitutional requirement. Today, instead of reading the speech prepared by the Cabinet, the Governor read the one he himself prepared. This is in violation of the Constitution of India. It violates Articles 176 and 163 of the Indian Constitution. He has not discharged his duties as per the Constitution. Therefore, we are going to protest against the attitude of the Governor. We are examining whether or not to approach the Supreme Court.”

Law Minister HK Patil also strongly criticised the Governor’s action and said, “Today is a black day in the history of democracy. A governor who is supposed to be the guardian of the Constitution has failed to do his duty. He is liable to address the joint session of the Assembly. He has insulted the Constitution. We will take an appropriate decision.”

IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge accused the Governor of acting under political influence and said, “Who is violating Articles 176 and 163? Everything stated in the Governor’s speech is factual. There is not a single lie, yet he does not want to read it. Has the Governor’s office become a BJP office?” He also criticised BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R Ashok, accusing the party of selectively using constitutional provisions without understanding their spirit.

The BJP, however, accused the Congress government of politicising the Governor’s address and using the legislature to attack the Centre.

Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khadar tried to reduce tensions and said there was no institutional conflict. He stated, “Constitutional bodies will support each other. The Governor’s office is a constitutional body. There is no conflict between the Governor and the government,” and appealed for calm amid the uproar.

Constitutional experts also reacted to the incident and warned that the Governor’s action could lead to legal scrutiny. PD Thankappan Acharya, former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, said, “Under Article 176(1), the Governor is required to address the House. He cannot refuse to do so. If he does, he is certainly acting against constitutional provisions.”

The confrontation had been building for several days. The state government had sent the draft address to Raj Bhavan on Monday, but it was returned with instructions to delete 11 paragraphs considered “contentious” and critical of the Union government. These paragraphs included references to the proposed replacement of MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission–Gramin Act, as well as concerns over GST losses, reduced tax devolution, and delayed irrigation funding.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had deputed a ministerial delegation led by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil to persuade the Governor to deliver the address. While the government agreed to modify seven disputed paragraphs to address technical issues, it refused to remove the paragraph on MNREGA, calling it crucial for protecting Karnataka’s interests.

Late on Wednesday night, Siddaramaiah held a meeting with senior officials and legal experts to explore possible legal options, including whether the Governor’s refusal amounted to neglect of constitutional duty.

The Karnataka incident follows similar confrontations in other opposition-ruled states. Recently, governors in Tamil Nadu and Kerala either skipped portions of the address or walked out entirely, which sparked debates about the limits of gubernatorial discretion. Legal experts pointed out that although a Governor may express reservations, the Constitution requires the address to be delivered to the joint sitting, even if the government later tables the full text in the House.

With the Governor’s walkout now recorded, political tensions in Karnataka have intensified, raising the possibility of a legal and constitutional confrontation between Raj Bhavan and the elected government.