Karnataka govt formation: Cong-JD(S) gets invite, 15 days to prove majority

The 2-day old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka collapsed today, with the chief minister announcing his decision to resign without facing a trust vote

Karnataka Election result 2018: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday resigned as the chief minister of Karnataka, two days after he took oath. Delivering an emotional speech in the Karnataka Assembly, Yeddyurappa slammed the "opportunistic alliance" between Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), labelling it "unholy".

Yeddyurappa said his only ambition was to serve people. “My entire life has been a test. Today is another. People of Karnataka have voted for us, and shown faith in the BJP.”

"I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people," Yeddyurappa said before announcing his resignation.

Earlier, the Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP and Yeddyurappa, accusing them  of luring its MLAs.

The Congress on Saturday released an audio tape where Yeddyurappa is purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote.

The BJP, however, rejected the charge, calling the tape the job of "mimicry artistes" and the "dirty tricks department" of the Congress.

In the tape, released hours ahead of the crucial floor test, Yeddyurappa is allegedly heard speaking to Congress MLA from Hirekerur B C Patil over phone.

A special session of the Karnataka Assembly began this morning with Yeddyurappa set to take the floor test that would determine the fate of his three-day-old government.

Earlier, the Supreme Court, hearing Congress-JD(S) combine's petition challenging the appointment of Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker by Governor Vajubhai Vala, ordered live telecast of proceedings of the floor test, slated for 4 PM.

The Congress-JD(S) combine in its petition has contended that the appointment of Bopaiah was contrary to the tradition of choosing the senior-most legislator for the post.

Elections held on May 12 to 222 of the state's 224 seats have resulted in a hung assembly with the BJP having 104 MLAs, while the Congress won 78 seats and JD(S) 37. Polling in two seats will be held later.

The Congress-JD(S) combine has claimed the support of 117 MLAs, including one each from the BSP and the KPJP, and one Independent.

The JD(S)'s effective strength will be 36 at the time of voting, as its leader H D Kumaraswamy has won from two seats.

8:27 PM

Karnataka governor should resign: Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Saturday that Karnakata Governor Vajubhai Vala should resign after the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in the state collapsed just before a crucial trust vote in the assembly.

 

Pawar said Vala's actions have damaged democracy.

8:25 PM

Central govt should resign on moral grounds, says  Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday termed the collapse of the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka a "victory of the people's mandate" and asked the central government to resign on moral grounds, as reported by PTI.

 

An emotional Yeddyurappa resigned as chief minister of the southern state without facing a trust vote, ordered by the Supreme Court on a petition by the Congress and JD(S) challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision inviting the BJP to form the government.

 

"Today, the people's mandate has prevailed over money power," Yadav wrote on Twitter in Hindi.

 

"Those who thought they could buy everyone have learnt the lesson that there are still people left who don't consider politics a business," he tweeted.

 

"The central government should also resign on moral grounds," he added.

8:04 PM

Cong-JD(S) invited to form Karnataka govt, given 15 days to prove majority

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7:32 PM

JDS-Cong coalition will not last long: Ananth Kumar

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Saturday said the coalition government of Congress and the JD(S) would not last long as it was an "unholy nexus." 

 

"BJP alone can give a stable government," Kumar told PTI here soon after B S Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as Karnataka chief minister without facing the vote of confidence in the Assembly.

 

The party cadres would not sit idle even for a minute and would take the "Congress' story of betrayal" to every village of Karnataka, he said.

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JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy will meet Governer Vajubhai Vala at 7.30 pm, to stake claim for forming government.

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Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said the Congress-JDS combine was not in a hurry and was awaiting an invitation from the Karnataka governor for government formation in the state.

 

"We are not in a hurry. We are waiting for an invitation from the governor," Kumaraswamy told reporters.

5:48 PM

BS Yeddyurappa submits resignation as Chief Minister of Karnataka to Governor Vajubhai Vala.

5:32 PM

"What happened, happened because of Amit Shah and PM's conspiracy. They want to grab every institution in the country by misusing the central and government machinery": Mayawati