all entities referred to are pure figments of an over-imaginative mind of the Mischievous Strategist :P

1. Manosh 'Sputnique' Sengupta
Idle Jottings of a Mischievous Strategist
dateline 18th May 2018
Karnataka Elections... how the Governor could have played the game
(all characters & entities are products of an over imaginative mind)
I wonder whether the master strategists of (all) Political Parties have lost their taste for subtlety and
Machiavellianism. Their in-your-face manipulation style, makes the public wonder why they are called
Politicians and not Bouncers
Now, assuming for a moment that the Governor/s - being political appointees - are stooges of the
Centre, the challenge arises on how to push a partisan agenda without being wrong footed
So, if I were the master-puppeteer, this is how I'd have handled the situation
 the Governor receives representations from both Factions
assures them that he will take 24 hours to convey his decision, after receiving the formal
election results from the ECI
 once the results are formally declared, call the 2 Parties for a meeting
1st meet with the Post-Poll-Alliance and assure them that they will get the 1st opportunity to
prove majority and give them (say) 10 days
then, call the Party with the largest seats (but without majority) and let them know
the reason for this Party accepting the Gov's decision will be clearer as you read along
 the Guv then makes a public announcement - with representatives of both parties by his side -
that both factions have agreed to a "just and fair" decision by the Guv
 after this, let both factions gloat &/or grumble... run to SC or whatever
but, the sanctity of the Guv's Office has been safe-guarded
nobody can point fingers at the Centre
NOW... why would the Single-Largest-Party (without majority) agree to this?
because of my, behind-the-scene, gameplan, which I divulge below
 the Centre orchestrates this flow of events and their Regional Branch is fully in the loop
 the real purpose is to give the Single-Largest-Party (w/o majority) a chance to maneuver the
scenario, within that 10 day period, to ensure that the Post-poll-Alliance does not win the Trust
Vote, on the appointed day
 even if the Combo were to win, the alliance would, at best, last 6-12 months... I say this, since
this is more a marriage of the market rather than minds
 and, if elections were to be held within the next 12months, the Central Party would have a
substantial edge - both moral & market
additionally, elections being an expensive affair, most MLAs' would rather switch sides, than go
for another election
 and, equally important, the public would lose confidence in such opportunistic alliances and
vote more decisively