NEWDELHI/BENGALURU: Though BJP legislative party leader BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the 23rd chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday, his fate still hangs in the balance. The three-judge special bench of the Supreme Court will on Friday decide the fate of BS Yeddyurappa who has been asked to show the letters of support given by him to the state’s Governor ahead of his swearing-in ceremony. The apex court bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan resumed the hearing on a petition filed by the Congress seeking a stay on Yeddyurappa’s swearing-in. Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to observe ‘Save Democracy Day’ across the country on Friday in protest against Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to “illegally” invite BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state. The party also put all its MLAs lodged in a resort outside Bengaluru en route an undisclosed location, late on Thursday.
Here are the latest updates from Karnataka.
The Congress has demanded in court that the entire proceedings of the floor test should be videographed to ensure proper security to MLAs so that they are able to vote fearlessly. SC admitted the request and said that it will direct the Karnataka DGP to ensure security and make proper arrangement for floor test on Saturday.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi asked in court whether a claim by the BJP that it has a majority to stake claim to form government needs some specific evidence or not. “is an assertion that give me a chance I will manufacture majority enough,” he asked in court. Singhvi has submitted to Supreme Court that Congress-JDS are ready for floor test on Saturday.
Justice Sikri said that on one side, Congress-JDS had given a letter with proven majority and on the other side, Yeddyurappa has claimed that he has a majority so on what ground did the Governor opt him over the alliance. The AG replied saying it is the discretion of the Governor on who should be called first taking into account who will form a stable government. Rohatgi also said that the letter by Congress-JDS does not show signs of each and every MLA declaring its support to the post-poll alliance.
The SC bench said that a floor test is the best option at the moment, let the larger question on the law on how should a Governor invite a person to form the government be settled later in court
The Supreme Court has asked Yeddyurappa to hold trust vote on Saturday to prove majority on the floor of the House. However, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing the Congress, said the Court must decide who is entitled to get the first chance.
Justice Sikri said in court that numbers and mandate are most important when it comes to government formation and the Governor needs to take this into account. The SC has ordered that a floor test should be held soon to prove majority.
Speaking in court, Mukul Rohatgi said that the Congress-JDS is an unholy alliance. He also added that there was no need for Yeddyurappa to give names of all MLAs to Governor as he is ready to prove majority on the floor of the House.
Congress leader DK Shivakumar said that the BJP is trying to poach MLAs by “using various government agencies”. To prevent the BJP from getting the numbers on its side, the Congress and the JDS have taken its MLAs to Hyderabad.
The letter handed over to the court by Mukul Rohatgi also state that Yeddyurappa has been elected as the leader of the largest party, BJP and has the necessary support of MLAs. The letter states that the BJP is ready to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
Mukul Rohatgi told court on Friday that as there was no pre-poll alliance between the Congress and the JDS, the BJP can form the government as it is the single largest party in the elections. Rohatgi has also reportedly presented Yeddyurappa’s letter to the Governor in court.
Congress free to take its MLAs even to Pakistan: BJP
Confident of having numbers on its side, the BJP leader Sadananda Gowda said the Congress has a right to take its MLAs anywhere, even to Pakistan. “Certainly BJP has the numbers, without that how can we form the govt? It is their right, no? They can take them anywhere, even to Pakistan,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a call to former PM HD Deve Gowda to wish him on his birthday. The phone call comes at a time when the BJP is fighting against the Congress-Janata Dal Secular combine to form government in Karnataka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a call to former PM HD Deve Gowda to wish him on his birthday. The phone call comes at a time when the BJP is fighting against the Congress-Janata Dal Secular combine to form government in Karnataka.
Even as the hearing on the political tussle has begun in SC, the Karnataka Congress MLAs have arrived at Hyderabad’s Taj Krishna Hotel. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) head Uttam Kumar Reddy is also present at the hotel.
Mukul Rohatgi who is representing the BJP in court, said that the party has the numbers. “We’ll show the CM’s letter to Court, it shows he has support & support will be shown in the house. There is no issue of horse-trading, it is the other way, as MLAs have been taken to resorts,” he said.
PM Modi speaks to HD Deve Gowda of JDS, conveys birthday wishes to him.
Karnataka BJP leaders have categorically denied the horse-trading charges and said that their leader will comfortably prove majority in the assembly.
Leave a Reply