Karnataka: Governor-Congress Face-Off Over Special Session and Speech

Tensions flared in Karnataka political circles Thursday after Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot refused to read a speech prepared by the ruling Congress for a special joint session of the state legislature.

Gehlot read the opening lines of the state's speech and added a few brief comments of his own to open the session, and then walked out, triggering a fierce exchange of barbs between the Congress and the main opposition, the BJP. The squabble included the customary pushing and shoving, with visuals indicating the Congress' BK Hariprasad attempted to stop Governor Gehlot from leaving. And when he refused to do so, other Congress lawmakers raised slogans against him and condemned the walkout.