Yeddyurappa to be Karnataka CM; Congress dubs Guv BJP puppet; to move SC

Yeddyurappa will take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister on Thursday at 9 am; rest of the cabinet will be sworn in only after proving its majority

The suspense over who is going to form the government in Karnataka is finally over. Karnataka Governor  Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala has now officially invited Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)'s B S Yeddyurappa to form the government in Karnataka and has given 15 days to prove majority. According to BJP member Basavaraj Bommai, Yeddyurappa will take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister on Thursday at 9 am. However, the rest of the cabinet will be sworn in only after proving its majority, according to BJP member Murlidhar Rao.

This comes after BJP leader Suresh Kumar had made the same announcement on Twitter but had later deleted the tweet. "B S Yeddyurappa will take oath as chief minister at 9.30 am at Raj Bhavan tomorrow. Let us all gather on this happy occasion," Kumar said in a tweet in Kannada. There was, however, no official communique from Raj Bhavan. Right after his tweet, the BJP Karnataka official Twitter handle said, "BS Yeddyurappa will take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka tomorrow morning at 9:30 am at Raj Bhavan. The movement to build our Suvarna Karnataka has begun". Minutes later, the tweet was deleted.

Lashing out at the Congress, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The party that blew up the constitution to shambles is teaching us the constitution, the party that imposed President rule the most number of times is giving us lessons," according to news agency ANI. His comments came after Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala was "constitutionally obliged" to invite the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) post-poll alliance to form the government in the state.

The Congress did not refrain from attacking its arch-rival BJP as well. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala questioned BJP President Amit Shah that if two parties cannot come together after an election, then "how did BJP form governments in Goa and Manipur by superseding single largest party?" He further added the Governor has shamed his office. 

By inviting BJP, the Governor of Karnataka has failed to disperse his Constitutional duty and acted like a BJP puppet. BJP has launched an oppressional 'Operation Kamal' at the Raj Bhavan, said Randeep Surjewala.

Earlier, MLAs and MPs of Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) had warned to sit on a 'dharna' outside Raj Bhawan from tomorrow if they are not invited by Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to prove their majority to form the government in Karnataka. Congress also threatened to approach the Supreme Court of India in case the Governor invited BJP to form government.
 

Siddaramaiah had earlier accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of encouraging horse-trading. Union minister Prakash Javadekar dismissed as imaginary JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's charge that BJP was offering Rs 1 billion (Rs 100 crore) to lure its MLAs. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy claims that BJP is trying to "bribe" its way to power through "horsetrading" after falling short of majority, alleges that his party's MLAs are being offered Rs 1 billion to break away. H D Kumaraswamy is elected leader of JD(S) legislature party. B S Yeddyurappa is elected leader of BJP legislature party, meets governor and gives letter about his unanimous election to the post, says he should be asked to take oath as chief minister.

Top 10 developments on who will form government in Karnataka and the recently conducted elections

1. Congress dubs Karnataka Governor 'BJP puppet': The Congress lambasted Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala for inviting BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state, accusing him of acting like a "BJP puppet" and allowing the saffron party to "manufacture" a majority in 15 days. Congress leader P Chidambaram also alleged that the Governor has given Yeddyurappa 15 days time to "convert" the number of 104 legislators to 111.

"Governor invites Mr Yeddyurappa to manufacture a majority in 15 days. "Governor gives Mr Yeddyurappa 15 days to convert the number 104 into 111," he tweeted.

Party general secretary Ashok Gehlot said that the decision was a "murder of democracy" and has been taken "under pressure from the BJP leadership".

Vajubhai Vala denigrates the Governor’s office,tramples upon Constitution,abuses the law & acts as a BJP puppet.

He chooses to serve his Master’s in BJP rather then serve the Constitution.

As @BJPKarnataka informed in advance, orders come from BJP HQ then the sanctity of office

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 16, 2018

2. Yeddyurappa to be next Karnataka CM: Karnataka Governor has invited B S Yeddyurappa to form govt, official communication has been received. Governor gave 15 days to prove majority and the oath ceremony would take place at 9 am tomorrow, according to BJP member Basavaraj Bommai.

Screenshot of Karnataka Governor's letter inviting BJP's BS Yeddyurappa to form government

3. Congress press conference after BJP claims: Karnataka Governor should not resort to a perilous path; he must invite JD(S)-Congress to form govt, said Congress.

"Law declared by Supreme Court binding on all; Karnataka Governor should not act illegally", the party added.

BJP leader had claimed that Karnataka Governor had given nod to Yeddyurappa to form government on May 17. The leader then deleted his tweet.

BJP Karnataka's Twitter handle @BJP4Karnataka announced the swearing in of Yeddyurappa, but later deleted the tweet

4. Karma catching up with Congress-JD(S), says Ram Madhav: BJP general secretary Ram Madhav today saw 'karma' catching up with the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka as he recalled the dismissal of the BJP government in Gujarat in 1996 involving some of the key protagonists in the political drama unfolding currently in the southern state.

H D Deve Gowda, now JD(S) president, was the prime minister at the time, the then Gujarat Governor Krishna Pal Singh was a former Congress leader and the state BJP chief was Vajubhai Vala, now the Karnataka governor, Madhav said, sharing an "interesting note" he received on WhatsApp.

The then president, Shankar Dayal Sharma, had imposed the President's Rule in the state on the recommendations of the Gowda government, supported by the Congress.

Suresh Mehta was the state chief minister and had proved his government's majority in the assembly but was dismissed for an alleged constitutional crisis in the state.

"Karma comes to haunt the Congress in Karnataka after 22 years," the post shared by Madhav on social media said.

"How is this story relevant after 22 years in Karnataka? Because those quoting verses of morality, constitutional ethics & conventions were perpetrators of murdering democracy and numerous elected governments right from Nehru," it said.

Bengaluru: BJP Karnataka in-charge Prakash Javadekar shows victory symbol on being asked if Governor has sent a letter inviting BJP to form government pic.twitter.com/Ti9boR1Hwj

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018

5. Governor constitutionally obliged to invite Congress-JDS, says Kapil Sibal: Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala was "constitutionally obliged" to invite the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) post-poll alliance to form the government in the state.

Sibal, also a senior advocate, said that Governor has "no choice" but to invite them to form the government.

"The Governor is constitutionally obliged to invite the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) combine. There is no choice with the Governor, but to invite us to form the government," Sibal told PTI.

6. Congress-JD(S) submits documents before Governor proving majority: The chief ministerial candidate of the alliance, HD Kumaraswamy told reporters, "We have submitted the necessary documents which show that we have the numbers required to form the government. He (Governor of Karnataka) promised he will consider according to the Constitution." Congress leader DK Shivakumar said that none of the elected MLAs backed out, and the alliance continues to hold majority.

"Governor has assured that he will take action as per the Constitution. We have full faith in him that he will not do injustice. We have our numbers, not even a single member has moved out. We will not allow any such thing to happen," Shivakumar told reporters.

We have submitted the necessary documents which show that we have the numbers required to form the government. He (Governor of Karnataka) promised he will consider according to the Constitution: HD Kumaraswamy after meeting Karnataka Governor #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/jLzTl4JF0W

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018

 

7. Prasad slams Siddaramaiah for remarks against PM: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of encouraging horse-trading in the state, saying the Congress should understand that the mandate of the people is against it. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said the Karnataka elections were a no-ordinary affair as Siddaramaiah lost in one constituency and "scraped through" in the other. "Only 16 of his Cabinet colleagues lost in the elections," he said sarcastically. "I have seen in the media utterly irresponsible, misleading and malicious comments by Siddaramaiah against our prime minister...I completely deny these allegations," Prasad said.

The allegations that Siddaramaiah made on PM Modi that that latter has allowed 'horse trading' in Karnataka is condemnable, false, irresponsible and baseless: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pic.twitter.com/27aSV4xiCF

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018

Congress has 'complete' faith in Karnataka Governor: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that the party has complete faith in Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to abide by the Constitution. "At this juncture, we have complete faith in the Governor that he will go by the Constitution and not party politics," Azad told reporters, adding that the BJP did not have the numbers to form government despite emerging as the single largest party.

8. Siddaramaiah says Modi behind horse trading in Karnataka: "Modi and Shah are supporting BJP leaders in horse-trading to poach legislators of our party and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) to prevent us from forming the next government in the state," Siddaramaiah said.

Asserting that the party would not allow the BJP to form a government in the state at any cost, Siddaramaiah said none of the Congress legislators were missing or likely to defect to the BJP.

"We have a plan to safeguard our MLAs, who are together and will not join the BJP, which has 8 less seats for the 112-halfway mark and prove majority," Siddaramaiah said.

9. Congress may move court if not invited to form govt: The Congress is likely to move court if Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala does not invite the JD(S)-Congress combine to form a government going by tradition and in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions. "We have staked our claim for formation of a government as we have the numbers as also the total vote share of over 56 per cent," added a senior party leader.

"All options remain open to the Congress," the party's communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said when asked what the party would do if the governor invited the BJP to form government. He said the governor is expected to listen to the mandate of the people.

10. Javadekar trashes Kumaraswamy's Rs 100-cr charge as 'imaginary': Union minister Prakash Javadekar today rubbished JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's charge that the BJP was offering Rs 100 crore to wean away his party MLAs in its bid to form a government in Karnataka, saying it is "imaginary". "Rs 100 crore, Rs 200 crore figures are imaginary. The BJP is not doing anything. This is the kind of politics the JD(S) and Congress play," he told reporters.

Yeddyurappa still keeping his CM hope alive: The chief ministerial candidate of the Bhartiya Janta Party and former CM of the state, BS Yeddyurappa said that he was going to be elected as the leader of the party. He added that all the MLAs from the BJP will meet Governor to request him to allow the party to form a government in the state.

"Tomorrow at 10:30 am in BJP legislative party meeting, I am going to be elected as party leader. After that, all MLAs are going to meet the Governor to request him to allow BJP to form govt. Now the ball is in the court of the Governor. We will do as he decides," he said on Tuesday.

BJP reaches out to JD(S): The BJP on Wednesday reached out to the JD(S) and offered H D Kumaraswamy the CM's post, in an attempt to form the next government in the state, sources told ETnow. BJP is just 9 seats short of the half-way mark, while the JD(S) has 37 seats in the 224-member Assembly. A day before, the Congress had offered support to JD(S) and chief ministership to Kumaraswamy. The JD(S) had accepted the offer. While it remains to be seen which of the BJP and Congress will come to power, it looks almost certain that the JD(S) would be part of the ruling coalition. Also, it looks imminent that Kumaraswamy would be the next CM -- either with the Congress support or with the BJP's.