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Congress leader Ashok Gehlot is optimistic of forming the government. However, he did not entirely rule out the possibility of forming an alliance with JD(S).
BJP workers celebrate outside the counting centre in Karnataka as early trends put the saffron party in a comfortable lead.
Indian equity benchmarks were trading on a strong note after the BJP extended its lead over the Congress in Karnataka, BloombergQuint reports.
The S&P BSE Sensex surged 1.18 percent or 417 points to 35,973 and the NSE nifty 50 index climbed 1.09 percent or 117 points to 10,924. The rupee rose to 67.53 against the dollar.
Reacting to the BJP's comfortable lead in the state, former chief minister of Karnataka, Sadananda Gowda told ANI that the saffron party was not interested in alliances.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh congratulates the party for the “historic win” in Karnataka.
BJP workers celebrate outside the BJP’s headquarters in Malleshwaram as trends show the saffron party clinching a comfortable lead in Karnataka.
Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nirmala Sitharaman celebrate at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.
Union Ministers congratulate Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi.
Congress leader D Shivakumar says that Rahul Gandhi has worked very hard but it is the local leadership that has failed.
Even as the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the Karnataka Assembly polls, sources in the Congress say they have offered support to the JD(S), with HD Kumaraswamy as the CM of the state, reported The News Minute.
Top sources in the Congress confirmed to The News Minute that the offer has already been communicated to the JD(S) and that senior leaders of the party are heading to meet the JD(S) chief.
Congress leaders confident that the BJP might not reach the magic number of 113 all by itself, they have now offered support to the JD(S) to form the government.
Opposition leaders, led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, are likely to meet HD Deve Gowda in the evening.
JD(S) sources however add that HD Kumaraswamy may not be too keen on such an arrangement with the Congress as his party has considerably less number of MLAs than Congress.
However, a source in the party said that party patriarch Deve Gowda will prefer the option of going with the Congress since they could also then bolster their secular image ahead of the 2019 polls.
Nagesh, an independent candidate, was supported by the Congress after the party’s candidate Manjunath's nomination was rejected on the grounds of discrepancy in caste certificate.
Shankar, the independent candidate from Ranibennuar is from the Kuruba case. He had sought a ticket from BJP and Congress but he was denied, following which he stood as an independent and defeated speaker KB Koliwad.
Quoting Governor Vajubhai Vala, ABP News reported that he will not be meeting any political party ‘until results of all seats are officially declared.’
A Congress delegation headed by G Parameshwara, who had gone to the Governor's House, was refused entry and had to turn back. Meanwhile, reports suggest that BS Yeddyurappa is on his way to meet the Governor.
The JD(S) has accepted Congress’ offer of an alliance, asserted party secretary general Danish Ali, adding that the two parties would meet the Governor post 5.30 pm to stake claim to form government. Ali also said that HD Kumaraswamy will takeover as CM.
Meanwhile, speaking to ABP News, JD(S) spokesperson Tanveer Ahmed said that the swearing-in ceremony would take place on 18 May.
Condemning the Congress for indulging in ‘back-door’ politics, BJP’s CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa said:
Yeddyurappa further said that the Congress had no right to assume a moral high-ground, while also stating that the ‘anti-Congress wave’ had helped JD(S) fare better than expected.
Incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has submitted his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala, reported ANI.
JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy writes to the governor, seeking an appointment to stake claim to form government.
Speaking to reporters outside the Governor’s residence, Congress MLA DK Shivakumar said that the party had the support of an independent MLA.
BJP CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa has announced that he too will meet the governor along with Union Minister Anath Kumar to stake claim to form government. “We are the single largest party in the state. The mandate is in our favour and against Congress,” he said.
They have sought an appointment for 5 pm with the governor, reported ANI. Speaking to reporters outside the Raj Bhawan, Yeddyurappa asserted that the BJP would indeed form the government.
Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said:
According to The News Minute, the BJP has sought a week’s time from the governor to prove their majority on the floor. Speaking to the website, a BJP MLA also reportedly said that talks had begun with MLAs in Congress and JD(S).
Meanwhile, handing over the letter to the governor, the delegation, reportedly quoting the SR Bommai judgment, said they would form the government as they were the single largest party.
Speaking to reporters outside the Raj Bhawan, Yeddyurappa said:
JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy, along with Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and former CM Siddaramaiah arrived at the Raj Bhavan to meet the governor.
Addressing the media outside the Raj Bhavan, former CM Siddaramaiah affirmed that the Congress had offered the JD(S) ‘unconditional support’ to form government.
The JD(S)-Congress alliance reportedly have 116 MLAs and two independent MLAs backing them.
In a series of tweets, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said:
Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala drew parallels to the BJP’s post-poll alliance in Goa in the 2017 state assembly elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to thank the BJP Karyakartas for their ‘steadfast’ support and efforts in ensuring a victory.
Single-largest party or a post-election coalition? Who should Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala invite to form the government? Here’s what the law says, and what the courts have considered in such cases previously.
Addressing the media outside the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, BJP President Amit Shah said:
Condemning the Congress for attempting to ‘divide and rule’, Shah alleged that the opposition party had ‘rigged the polls’.
He said the state has shown trust in Prime Minister Modi's "clean governance" and rejected the Congress' "divisive politics". He accused the Congress of using money and muscle power in Karnataka and added that the party was rejected by people of the state.
Speaking to The News Minute, Congress MLA DK Shivakaumar said that the party would hold a meeting tomorrow, following which MLAs will be moved to a resort to avoid poaching.
Terming the BJP’s performance in the elections an ‘unprecendented win’, Prime Mininster Narendra Modi said that the numbers had rubbished the perception that the party belongs to ‘Hindi-speaking parts of the country’.
Congress’ G Parameshwara will be made the Deputy Chief Minister in the proposed Congress-JD(S) alliance, reported ANI, quoting JD(S) leader Baiju Narajan.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, thanked the workers and voters for their support in the Karnataka elections.
Leaders from the BJP’s top brass met at the party headquarters in New Delhi to decide on the possible outcomes from the Karnataka elections.
JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda arrives at Lalit Ashok to hold talks with Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, DK Shivakumar, Dr G Parameshwara, KJ George and others.
BJP CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa has said that party MLAs will approach the governor tomorrow after the legislative meeting to form government.
According to Congress party sources, DK Shivakumar was playing hardball with the other leaders, and lobbying for a Deputy Chief Ministership for himself.
But sources close to HD Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) president and Chief Minister designate of the coalition, said that the party was apprehensive of accepting DK Shivakumar as the Deputy Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, a BJP source said that the party is in talks with over 10 Congress MLAs and a few JD(S) leaders as well.
Read The News Minute’s full report on the negotiations here.
After holding a meeting with JD(S) leaders, former CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah addressed the press outside the Lalit Ashoka hotel in Bengaluru, stating that important decisions regarding the power-sharing formula would be decided later.
He said:
Meanwhile, CM designate in the alliance, HD Kumaraswamy, said that the JD(S) and Congress would decide on the alliance tomorrow.
Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad and other Congress leave after meeting JD (S) leaders Deve Gowda HD Kumaraswamy at Bengaluru's Ashoka Hotel.
The Election Commission named BJP’s Jagadish Shettar as the winner of the Hubli Dharwad constituency. Earlier, the EC withheld the results for the constituency, due to alleged EVM malfunctioning.
The legislative members of the Congress party are scheduled to meet at 8 am on Wednesday, 16 May, while members of the BJP are likely to meet at 10 am.
The JD(S) is also expected to meet early on Wednesday.
All India Congress Committee General Secretary and MP, KC Venugopal and other Congress MLAs arrived at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office for party legislative meeting.
Quoting sources in the BJP, The News Minute reported that the BJP has given up the fight to poach JD(S) MLAs and has turned its attention instead to Lingayat MLAs from the Congress. It is believed that MP B Sriramulu has been given the task of wooing them to defect during the floor test.
Sources in the BJP had earlier confirmed to the TNM how the party is trying to poach Lingayat MLAs in the opposition fold as a repeat of its 2008 Operation Kamala.
The BJP’s KS Eshwarappa, who won Eshwarappa constituency on Tuesday told ANI, “There is no doubt we will form govt, 100 percent we'll do that. Wait and watch. Results came out only yesterday. It has been only a day. See what can happen in Karnataka in a day.”
Congress candidate Amaregouda Linganagouda Patil Bayyapur alleged that BJP leaders tried to poach him so as to form the government in Karnataka.
He told ANI: “They said come to us and we'll give a ministry to you. We'll make you a minister. But, I'm going to stay here. HD Kumaraswamy is our Chief Minister.”
“The single largest party doesn't have the numbers. BJP has 104, we (Congress and JDS) have 117. Governor cannot take sides. Can a person who is there to save constitution, destroy it too? The governor has to cut all its previous associations, be it BJP or RSS,” State-in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad told ANI.
He said, “JD(S) has all the faith in their MLAs. Nobody is going to go away. Let BJP try, whatever they want to.”
“All the Congress MLAs are intact. Nobody is missing. We are confident of forming the government,” outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah told ANI after reaching the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office for party legislative meeting.
When asked if Congress MLAs are being moved to keep them from being poached, incumbent Karnataka energy minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar, , “Yes definitely there is a plan. We have to safeguard our MLAs, We will let you know what is the plan.”
“They (BJP) are poaching our MLAs, we know that. Everyday there is a lot of pressure. But it not so easy because two parties have the necessary number. People are watching this,” he told ANI.
As per the The New Minute’s sources, Shivakumar has been lobbying for a Deputy Chief Ministership for himself.
But he denied the rumours and told ANI, “No question of asking for anything. Our priority right now is to have a secular government. All the 78 MLAs are together.”
“JD(S) and Congress have the numbers. I hope, the governor will discharge his constitutional duties and invite HD Kumaraswamy to talk,” JD(S) National General Secretary Danish Ali told ANI. “If BJP puts pressure on the governor, it will be the death of democracy.”
JD(S) Minister of Legislative Council Saravana told ANI: “I don't know what they (BJP) are offering but they are trying to call our people, but they are not responding. We are all together, no one can touch our party. Our party MLAs are loyal to the party.”
Congress leader KJ George has been given the task of hand-picking suitable resorts for the transfer of Congress and JD(S) MLAs, reported The News Minute, quoting sources.
The news website, quoting multiple party sources, reported that earlier Andhra pradesh was considered as the location but now Kerala and Puducherry are being considered.
Ahead of the BJP legislative party meeting, the BJP’s Chief Minister candidate BS Yeddyrurappa told ANI, “During the legislature party meeting the leader will be elected. From there we will go to Raj Bhavan immediately. We will claim to form the government. Most probably we will ask the Governor to give us time tomorrow.”
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar who will be at the meeting, told ANI, “People want BJP govt & we will make it. Anyone can create unnatural tensions, but people of Karnataka are with us. After meeting, we will take necessary steps. This attempt made by Congress to make a backdoor entry is not appreciated.”
Senior leaders J P Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan will attend a meeting of the newly-elected BJP MLAs in Bengaluru on Wednesday, 16 May as the party's central observers.
The decision to send the two leaders to Bengaluru was taken by the BJP parliamentary board on Tuesday.
With the BJP appearing to be falling short of a majority after the results of the Karnataka assembly polls were declared, the party today rushed its three senior leaders to the state to talk with possible allies to cobble up the numbers required to form the next government in the state.
JD(S) Karnataka chief HD Kumaraswamy reaffirmed that the party has already decided to support Congress and would stand by it. He told ANI, “We have already decided to go with Congress. That's the reason we called Janta Dal (Secular) Legislature Party meeting. There is no question of taking any other decision.”
Former Attorney General Mulul Rohatgi told ANI, “Governor is obliged to call largest party, which is BJP. He should call BJP leader asking him if he can form governmet. If he says he can't, Governor will then call second party and if he says he can form govt, Governor should give him time to prove majority.”
Amid assurances of a solid partnership with Congress, two JD(S) MLAs– Raja Venkatappa Nayaka and Venkata Rao Nadagoudaare reportedly missing from a legislative party meeting which is underway in a hotel in Bengaluru.
After BJP party meet, BS Yeddyurappa has been elected as the legislative party chief in Karnataka. He went to Raj Bhavan to meet the governor and stake claim to form the government in the state.
Out of the 78 Congress MLAs, 67 have reached for Congress legislative meeting at Karnataka Party Congress Committee office in Bengaluru, reported ANI.
“The party has chosen me. I have given the letter to the Governor and he will call me, that is what I am hoping,” BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa said. “He told me that he will take an appropriate decision. I'll inform you after I receive letter from Governor,” he told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.
HD Kumaraswamy was chosen as the legislative party leader of the JD(S), in a meeting of party MLAs in Bengaluru.
“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each," HD Kumaraswamy told reporters after the JD(S) legislative meeting. "Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?”
Five JD(S) MLA-elects have been approached by the BJP in a bid to poach them, reported The News Minute quoting party sources.
Three of the 11 missing Congress MLAs have arrived at the party meeting which is underway in Bengaluru.
Congress is set to move the Supreme Court of India if the Karnataka governor invites the BJP to form the government in the state, according to reports.
Debunking Congress and JD(S)’ allegations about BJP trying to poach MLAs, Karnataka party in-charge Prakash Javadekar told ANI: “They are leveling baseless charges against BJP. Poaching and horse trading is not done by BJP, Congress is famous for it. Their own MLAs are not happy with their alliance.”
He added, “Rs 100 crore figure is not only imaginary but it is what Congress-JD(S) do politics through. We are going by rules,we have submitted our claim to the Governor, are confident of forming the government.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee phoned JD(S) party legislative chief HD Kumaraswamy to convey her wishes, reported News18.
Quoting sources, News18 reported that few opposition leaders have advised the JD(S)-Congress alliance to approach the President if they are not invited by the governor to form the government.
Congress sources confirmed to The Quint that although 73 out of 78 party MLAs have reached the venue for the meeting, all the MLAs have assured their support to the JD(S)-Congress alliance.
The document, signed by the JD(S) and Congress MLAs will be submitted to the Governor later today when JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy approaches the governor.
Slamming the BJP for attempting to poach MLAs, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the governor should work as per the Constitution.
He further alleged that the alliance members had been attempting to meet the governor from 12 pm onwards, and are yet to secure an appointment.
Quoting sources, ANI reported that the Congress-JD(S) MLAs will sit on dharna from tomorrow if they were not invited by the governor to form government. MPs are also also expected to join the protest.
The JD(S)-Congress alliance have now been given a 5pm appointment to meet with Governor Vajubhai Vala. They were earlier said to meet at 4 pm.
According to News18, the delay in the meeting stems from the two parties still working out the details of their alliance.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders Ananth Kumar and JP Nadda met BS Yeddyurappa at his residence.
JD(S) and Congress MLAs are expected to be moved to a resort later in the evening, according to media reports. A News18 report said that the MLAs would be lodged at the Eagleton Golf resort in Bengaluru.
Congress MLAs have left the party headquarters in Bengaluru to meet the governor in Raj Bhavan.
Meanwhile, police personnel have been deployed outside the Raj Bhavan, where fresh political drama is expected to unfold.
The JD(S) delegation, led by CM desginate HD Kumaraswamy, has reportedly been stopped outside Raj Bhavan.
Meanwhile, the police is allowing MLAs inside the premises only after checking their names.
While the police denied entry to the JD(S) MLAs inside the Raj Bhavan, the forces have allowed HD Kumaraswamy and some other leaders to enter.
Addressing the press conference, JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy said:
Kumaraswamy also added that the parties had submitted a letter to prove their strength – 117 MLAs, and that the governor had accepted their appeal.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Parameshwara said that they had communicated thier decision to support JD(S). Speaking to ANI after the conference, DK Shivakumar asserted that none of the members had defected, and that the party would not allow for any such thing to happen.
BJP MPs Shobha Karandlaje, GM Siddeshwara and PC Mohan write to Home minister Rajnath Singh stating, 'we have every reason to believe that Karnataka government is misusing its power and tapping our mobile phones. This is clear violation of our fundamental right to privacy.'
Addressing a press conference, BJP’s Eswarappa said that the people of the state would not accept another government.
Congress MLAs left the Bengaluru headquarters, hours after meeting with the governor, presumably for a resort.
Speaking to reporters, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said:
Confirming earlier reports, BJP leader Suresh Kumar had tweeted saying BS Yeddyurappa will take oath on 17 May at 9.30 am. The tweet has now been deleted.
The tweet reads: “BS Yeddyurappa will be sworn in as Chief Minister of the state at Raj Bhavan tomorrow at 9.30 am on Thursday. Let’s gather in large numbers at 8:30 am to take part in this moment of celebration.”
The BJP too had tweeted out that Yeddyurappa would take oath at 9.30 am, deleting the tweet later.
Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram criticised the governor, stating that despite the Congress-JD(S) alliance having a majority, the governor is yet to take a decision.
He added that if the governor did not invite Kumaraswamy to form the government, that would mean that he was indirectly encouraging poaching of MLAs.
Speaking to reports, JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy:
Sources have told The Quint that the JD(S)-Congress alliance will likely file a petition in the Supreme Court tonight. The petition will either be filed with the SC Registrar or the CJI.
After initially having said that BS Yeddyurappa would take oath as CM at 9.30 am, the BJP has now revised the time by half an hour to 9.00 am.
The BJP has been given 15 days time to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly.
Addressing a press conference minutes after the governor invited the BJP to form government, senior leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said:
Htting out at the governor, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted:
Addressing a press conference concurrently, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Karnataka Governor had acted as a 'stooge' of BJP, and had ‘shamed his office’.
Surjewala thena alleged that by getting the governor to act like a ‘BJP puppet’, the party had an “oppressional 'Operation Kamal' at the Raj Bhavan.”
Speaking to reporters after the BJP was invited to form government, HD Kumaraswamy alleged that the governor was encouraging ‘horse-trading’ by giving the BJP 15 day time to prove majority.
Congress- JD(S) moved Supreme Court against Karnataka governor's invitation to BJP to form government. The party has sought a hearing tonight on its petition against the governor’s decision.
The petition was filed by Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of his party.
JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy arrived at the Eagleton resort, where Congress MLAs, and senior leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad are stationed.
120 rooms have reportedly been booked for the Congress MLAs in Eagleton resort.
Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi, who moved the petition against Karnataka governor’s invitation to BJP to form the government, questioned how the governor gave the party 15 days to prove majority.
In a tweet, Singhvi accused the governor of acting as a partisan agent of the Centre.
Karnataka Chief Secretary Ratnaprabha, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, confirmed that only BS Yeddyurappa will take oath as the state’s Chief Minister on Thursday, 17 May.
Yeddyurappa is scheduled to take oath in at Raj Bhavan Glass House in Bengaluru at 9 am.
Congress and JD(S) filed petition before the Supreme Court Registrar against Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala inviting BJP CM designate BS Yeddyurappa to form the government.
Following the examination of the petition filed by both the parties, the Registrar will reportedly meet CJI Dipak Misra - who has the sole power to constitute a bench.
The BJP has reportedly filed a caveat with the SC, anticipating an interim order.
Congress and JD(S) lawyer Javed questioned how the BJP will prove their majority when they have won only 104 seats.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that they “definitely” had the majority, on being asked if BJP has the number of MLAs to form the government.
Javadekar arrived at the residence of BS Yeddyurappa for a meeting with senior BJP leaders.
The Secretary General of the Supreme Court reached the residence of the Chief Justice of India along with the Registrar, to decide whether to hear the petition filed by the Congress, JD(S) at midnight.
(Read full story here.)
Hours before the swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa as Karnataka Chief Minister, the Supreme Court will hear the petition filed by Congress and JD(S) challenging the governor’s invitation to BJP to form the government at 1:45 AM.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who filed the petition on behalf of his party tweeted saying that “system works irrespective of merits in large wheels.”
A three-judge bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Bobde will hear Congress & JD(S) petition challenging Karnataka Governor's invitation to BJP to form the government at 1:45 am, reported ANI.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will defend Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala in the petition filed by Congress, JD(S) challenging his invitation to BJP to form government in the state.
Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who is likely to represent the BJP said:
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Congress-JD(S) alliance commenced arguments, saying governor Vajubhai Vala completely dispensed with constitutional norm. Singhvi reportedly said HD Kumaraswamy staked his claim to form government with support from Congress MLAs. The alliance has a total strength of 116 in 222-member Assembly, said Singhvi.
Singhvi questioned how the Governor passed an order for BS Yeddyurappa’s oath-taking for Thursday, at 9 PM on Wednesday, 16 May.
Here are the arguments made by the Congress-JD(S) alliance:
Attorney General KK Venugopal has also reportedly entered the courtroom, to represent Union of India.
Justice Bobde reportedly asked Abhishek Singhvi if the Supreme Court had the powers to restrain a governor.
“The SC had done that in the past”, Singhvi said in response to Justice Bobde.
Singhvi reportedly added there won't be “vaccum as caretaker government is always in place.”
The senior advocate also reportedly gave instances where single largest party didn’t make the government, citing Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya and Delhi.
The Supreme Court may reportedly ask BS Yeddyurappa to place on record, the letter submitted by him to the Karnataka Governor, claiming that his party had the support of 111 MLAs.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi arguing for Congress-JD(S) sought deferring of swearing-in by two days.
"Swearing-in ceremony can be held day after tomorrow," said Singhvi in the hearing of plea filed by Congress and JD(S) challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision.
He argued that defering swearing-in is not like “restraining” the Governor.
Attorney General KK Venugopal has started making arguments on behalf of the Government of India.
Former AG Mukul Rohatgi, who is representing BJP MLAs intervened and asked if “heavens will fall if someone is sworn-in.”
Security tightened outside the Supreme Court as hearing of Congress- JD(S) petition underway.
Justice AK Sikri rejected the argument made by AG KK Venugopal who said ‘anti defection will come into force only after the MLAs are sworn in.”
He reportedly said that MLAs can defect before oath-taking, which the apex court called “preposterous.”
BJP MLAs’ lawyer Mukul Rohatgi argued that the date of floor test can be decided later on Thursday, but the SC bench rejected that saying it has nothing to do with arguments being heard at 4 AM.
Mukul Rohatgi, who is representing some BJP MLAs asked for the petition filed by Congress and JD(S) to be dismissed by the Supreme Court. He said that the bench can hold the decision as bad, but cannot be stopped from acting.
He said that Congress and JD(S) should have waited for the floor test, before moving the apex court.
Justice AK Sikri said that the Supreme Court does not intend to stay swearing-in ceremony of BS Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
With Congress representative Abhishek Singhvi persisting, the Supreme Court agrees to hear the arguments further. Rohatgi resumes his submissions.
The apex court reportedly said that if it cannot issue notice to the Karnataka Governor, it should not “injure him from swearing-in also”.
The Supreme Court ordered that there will no stay on the swearing-in of BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. However, the court noted, that BSY’s appointment as CM will be subjected to outcome of case. The matter is to be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday.
The apex court has issued notices to all the respondents.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 17 May, said it was not in favour of deferring BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as Karnataka Chief Minister, even as the Congress and JD(S) continued their past-midnight legal push to stall the government formation in the state.
"As far as swearing-in is concerned, we are not restraining it, but we are making it subject to the outcome of the case," a three-judge bench, comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan said in a rare past-midnight hearing that continued till the wee hours of Thursday.
However, before the bench was to dictate the order, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi pleaded the bench not to dictate the final order and sought to argue the matter further. During his submission he said the swearing-in could be postponed from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on Thursday also adding that the BJP should be asked to produce the letter of support from the majority of MLAs submitted to the governor before forming the government.
The bench was of the view that a notice has to be be issued to Yeddyurappa as he has not made his appearance before the court through an advocate. However, Singhvi said Yeddyurappa has been heard in proxy through two BJP MLAs who were represented by Mukul Rohatgi at 2.11 am.
The drama in the Karnataka elections is far from being over with the Supreme Court pulling an all-nighter before allowing the BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa to be sworn in as the chief minister on 17 May.
The Congress- JD(S) alliance challenged the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s invitation to Yeddyurappa to form government, in the apex court.
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Published: 14 May 2018,08:23 PM IST