On Wednesday, the Congress and JD(S) had staked claim before the Governor to form the government in Karnataka with their combined 116 seats, shortly after the BJP approached the Governor with its claim to form the government with 104 seats in the currently 222-member Assembly. This was before the governor invited the BJP, the single largest party with 104 seats but short of the 112-seat majority, to form the government.
Read | Karnataka elections 2018: How it unfolded, from midnight at CJI home to 4:30 am in SC
The Congress-JD(S) alliance asked the Governor to call them to form the government following a Supreme Court order of March 2017 in the case of the formation of a government in Goa where two parties were invited instead of the single largest party.
The Governor, however, gave the BJP 15 days to prove its majority in the hung Assembly where the Congress has 78 members, the Janata Dal (Secular) 37 members and there are three others, including a BSP member, allied with the JDS.
Read | Karnataka elections: Ahead of floor test, one MLA missing, all eyes on the rest
Late night, the Congress filed a petition before the Supreme Court Registrar challenging the Governor’s decision and seeking an urgent hearing by the Chief Justice of India. The top court, however, decided not to stop Yeddyurappa from being sworn-in as the chief minister of Karnataka but said his swearing-in would be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.
Section 144 has been imposed in Mangalore as a precautionary measure ahead of the SupremeCourt's order directing BJP's
BS Yeddyurappa to prove majority in the state assembly.
Meanwhile, newly-elected JD(S) and Congress MLAs from Karnataka, who had been camping here in two hotels to avoid any poaching bids, tonight left for Bengaluru for the crucial floor test in the state assembly tomorrow. JD(S) MLC Basavaraj said in the morning that as many as 36 legislators belonging to his party and 77 of the Congress were camping in the city hotels.
monthly limit of free stories.
with an Express account.
The Congress workers staged protests at various places across the country, including the governor's Rajkot residence in Gujarat. Delhi Congress unit chief Ajay Maken led the party's ‘Save Democracy' demonstration at RK Puram here and accused the BJP of trying to "kill democracy" in connivance with Vala by installing a “minority” government in Karnataka by allowing the saffron party's legislature party leader B S Yeddyurappa to take oath as the chief minister. Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh Friday held demonstrations across the state to protest the 'unconstitutional and undemocratic' manner in which the BJP has formed the government in Karnataka. Top Congress leaders, including state unit chief Raj Babbar gathered as well.
The Supreme Court witnessed some lighter moments during the over one-hour-long tense, high-voltage hearing on Karnataka's political crisis which made the jam-packed court room burst into peals of laughter. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, told a bench headed by Justice A K Sikri that BJP MLAs from different parts of the state will have to rush to Bengaluru on a short notice for the floor test, evoking laughter from those present in the courtroom as most of the party MLAs were already staying in the city for past couple of days. In another moment Singhvi requested the court to restrain Yeddyurappa from taking any major policy decisions. The court noted in its order and restrained the government from taking any major policy decisions till the floor test tomorrow at 4 pm.
The Supreme Court will hear Congress's plea regarding the appointment of pro tem speaker of BJP MLA tomorrow at 10:30am, ANI reports
JD(Secular) chief H D Kumaraswamy alleged that BJP has hijacked its two MLAs but expressed confidence that they will be back with them tomorrow. "JD(S) & Congress have jointly given list of 118 MLAs to Governor. We've sufficient strength to form Govt in Karnataka. This morning Supreme Court has given judgement on Governor's decision. For past 2 days, BJP is trying to buy the MLAs of the opposition," Kumaraswamy was quoted as saying by ANI.
Ex-CM Siddaramaiah was elected leader of the Congress legislature party at the meeting.
The Congress-JD (S) combine today approached the Supreme Court challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint K G Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker of the assembly to conduct the crucial floor test tomorrow. PTI quoted sources as saying that the petition was placed before a registrar of the apex court but some defects were pointed out in the plea.
Meanwhile, TMC president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the Supreme Court verdict ordering a floor test for the B S Yeddyurappa government in the Karnataka Assembly tomorrow and said the regional parties would decide on their next move after it. Banerjee, who has mooted the idea of a Federal Front to take on the Narendra Modi government in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is keeping in touch with prominent regional leaders over the fast-paced developments in Karnataka.
"It (staking claim) is merely a political stunt by the Congress. It appears to be an attempt to keep its flock together," Narendra Sawaikar, the BJPs South Goa Lok Sabha MP, said while addressing a press conference today. Hitting out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the BJP MP claimed that the party had lost all elections since 2014 and alleged that such "political stunts" (of staking claim to form the government) were being adopted to cover up these failures.
"This audio CD is one of the handiworks of Congress' dirty tricks department. This is a fake CD," Prakash Javadekar on the audio, which was released by Congress, in which Janaradhana Reddy is allegedly trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural by offering him money.
"We are in the Shangri-La hotel for the legislature meeting. We have the majority. More than what we expected. Our workers are really happy," says BS Yeddyurappa, CM of Karnataka.
"Of course they are with us, if the MLAs from Congress & JD(S) don't support us, how can we prove majority? We will win the floor test 101%," BS Yeddyurappa, CM of Karnataka.
"When Rameshwar Thakur as Governor had appointed Bopaiah as pro tem speaker of Karnataka in 2008, Congress didn't object. In Jharkhand, when a junior MLA was appointed, Cong leader A M Singhvi defended it in court. Now they are objecting. This is Congress hypocrisy," Prakash Javadekar said.
Congress MLAs leave from Hotel Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. They will be travelling to Bengaluru.
The Congress played the audio clip at a press conference on Friday evening. In the audio, a man suspected to be Reddy is heard telling Congress MLA from Raichur Rural that he should join favour the BJP in the floor test and in return he can be made minister.
READ FULL STORY: BJP’s Janardhan Reddy offered bribe to our MLA, claims Congress, releases audio tape
Congress releases audio clip in which Janaradhana Reddy is allegedly trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural by offering him money,
(Source: ANI)
UP Congress leaders, led by Raj Babbar, meet Governor Ram Naik to hand over a memorandum, protesting against Karnataka Governor inviting BJP to form the government in the state.
"All the MLAs are here, we will be leaving for Bengaluru. We don't have any meeting here. Siddaramaiah has come here, we will be leaving soon. We have 77 MLAs here. No pressure on us. It will be our govt," says Rajshekar Patil, Congress MLA in Hyderabad
"We will be able to inform you in a short while. Yes, the option of going back to Court is open: Randeep Surjewala, Congress on if Congress will challenge BJP MLA KG Bopaiah's appointment as pro tem Speaker.
"Governor Vajubhai Vala has once again launched an encounter on the Constitution by appointing KG Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker instead of the senior most MLA," says Randeep Surjewala, Congress.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court gave clear-cut four-step instructions for holding the floor test in the Karnataka assembly tomorrow for ascertaining the majority or otherwise of the B S Yedyurappa's government in the state. In its order, the apex court enumerated the four steps that have to be followed for holding the floor test, directing the immediate appointment of the Pro- tem Speaker, holding the oath ceremony for all elected members tomorrow. This exercise has to be completed before 4 PM when the floor test will be held to ascertain the majority.
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah arrived at the Begumpet airport in a chartered flight today evening. He will be holding the CLP meeeting at 5 pm at Taj Krishna. Siddaramiah arrived with other senior Congress leaders, including Digvijay Singh.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi says party may challenge appointment of K G Bopaiah as pro- tem speaker in Karnataka
The name of Bopaiah was chosen by the Governor from a list of names of senior MLAs in the new house given by the office of the secretary to the state legislative assembly. The senior most MLA is normally by convention chosen as the pro tem Speaker. The senior most MLA in the new state assembly is R V Deshpande of the Congress who has been elected eight times. K G Bopaiah the pro tem Speaker chosen by Governor Vajubhai Vala is a four-time MLA. He was earlier the pro tem Speaker in 2008 in his second term as an MLA.
Karnataka Governor appoints senior BJP leader and MLA K G Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker to conduct the floor test of the newly elected B S Yeddyurappa led BJP government. Bopaiah's appointment has come even as the Congress and JDS coalition were seeking appointment of RV Deshpande as the interim speaker on account of his seniority in the assembly. Bopaiah was the pro tem Speaker in 2008 when a trust vote was held to test the numbers of the Yeddyurappa-led BJP government which fell three short of the 113 magic number in the 224-member house and had to rely on five Independents to nudge it to a majority. In the current house, the BJP is eight short of a majority of 112 while the Congress-JDS coalition claim to have the support of 115 members.
"The victory is ours. BJP is confident of their defeat. We only have to wait for 24 hours," said Singhvi.
"BJP seems to have already conceded defeat and are speaking under pressure. The pro-tem speaker by convention is usually the senior most MLA. We are only asking for the convention to be followed," claims Abhishek Manu Singhvi
BJP MLA K G Bopaiah appointed pro tem Speaker by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala
"BS Yeddyurappa should not have claimed majority. They are aware that they cannot turn 104 to majority. They cannot muster numbers in a day," says Singhvi.
"BJP wanted that vote of confidence should be done via secret ballot. But, Supreme Court has written in its order that there shall be no secret ballot in proving vote of confidence tomorrow," says Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress.
BJP is trying to form government more by crook and less by hook, says Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi
A group of Congress workers today assembled outside the home of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala here and shouted slogans against him following which 30 of them were detained, the police said. They were protesting against Vala's decision to invite the BJP to form the government in Karnataka despite the saffron party's numbers being less than the combined tally of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the state Assembly.
DMK leader Kanimozhi accused the BJP for "trying to indulge in horse trading". On Twitter, she said, "It is obvious that the BJP does not have the numbers to prove majority. Yediyurappa Should not continue this charade anymore or try to indulge in horse trading and resign immediately."
While continuing his attack on Congress and party chief Rahul Gandhi, Patra said, "Rahul Gandhi had shamelessly compared the Supreme Court to Pakistan the other day. The same Congress had moved an impeachment motion too. And now it has decided to restore its faith in the top court."
"Congress's selective approach won't work. The Constitution cannot be altered to the whims of the Gandhis," he added.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, while addressing the media in the national capital, said, "Congress has murdered the mandate in Karnataka. We hope that the party continues to give the same respect to the top court it gave today."
Accusing the BJP of abducting its MLA, B S Anand Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Humein yeh maloom hai kis mantri (Central minister) ke dwara unko phone kiya gaya, bulaya gaya aur baad mein pakad kar bhi rakha (I know which minister had called him and later abducted him)." Singh had failed to show up at the legislative party meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday, triggering speculations that he may rejoin the BJP in the event of the Karnataka assembly election results throwing up a hung house.
"Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore, our MLAs are with us. None of our members are going away. Either today evening or tomorrow early morning, we will be leaving for Bengaluru," GT Devegowda of JD(S) said in Hyderabad.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejaswi Yadav also welcomed the Supreme Court ruling on Karnataka's government formation.
"JDS-Cong may pull all their plugs. But rest assured, we will emerge victorious tomorrow," BJP said.
He added, "The judgement of the SC is historic. The Governor's role in the Constitution is very important and he must be unbiased. But in Karnataka, the Governor has taken decisions to favor the BJP."
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also addressed the media. He said, "We had informed the Governor that it was us (alliance) who had the majority and not the BJP. Even the independents are with us. We had requested the Governor thrice to allow us to form the government. Ghulam Nabi Azad said he will consult legal experts as well."
"After the swearing-in ceremony of all the MLAs, the process of confidence winning should begin. We request that the Pro tem speaker be the senior most legislator. This is customary across the country. The election of the speaker takes place after the oath-taking ceremony," Azad said.
He added, "I welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court. Once again, the highest court of the country rose to the occasion. We thought the court might withdraw the decision of the Governor, but however, we congratulate the judiciary for their uprightness, for saving the democracy and protecting the Constitution of India."
"The governor has violated the democratic norm. The Congress had won 78 seats, JD(S) had won 38 and there were two independents. The total was 117. We immediately came together and met Governor Vala, not once but twice, to stake the claim before BJP. In Manipur, Goa and Meghalaya, the respective governors had changed the rules of the game by saying no single largest party will form the government if someone else had the numbers. We thought this would have applied to Karnataka as well. To the surprise of the citizens, the governor invited the BJP, without establishing the numbers. No governor in the history of India had given a CM two weeks to prove majority. The maximum time was one week," Azad said.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, while addressing the media at the party headquarters in Bengaluru, said, "The Supreme Court has once again risen to the occasion to save democracy."
Taking to Twitter, Karnataka BJP said, "We will prove majority on the floor of the house tomorrow. BJP is confident of winning the floor test. We have the blessings of 6 crore Kannadigas who voted for change. Their aspirations and blessings will be respected and acknowledged."
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the apex court's order showed that Governor Vala "had acted unconstitutionally". "Today’s Supreme Court order, vindicates our stand that Governor Vala acted unconstitutionally. The BJP’s bluff that it will form the Govt., even without the numbers, has been called out by the court. Stopped legally, they will now try money & muscle, to steal the mandate," he tweeted.
"Will discuss with chief secretary and call for assembly session tomorrow," Yeddyurappa added.
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa told reporters, "We will prove the majority on Saturday."
President of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, said, "So, there is a SUPREME court that is willing to intervene to prevent constitutional fraud! Honestly, we had stopped expecting this. Hope this is the beginning of restoration of moral authority of the Supreme Court."