JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda, Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad, former CM Siddaramaiah, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy with JD(S) and Congress party supporters and MLAs stage dharna in front of Gandhi Statue near Vidhan Soudha.
Protesting against Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s “collusion with the BJP”, by inviting BS Yeddyurappa to take the oath of office despite falling short of the required mandate, the Congress party is observing a ‘Save Democracy Day’ across the country. The party will hold protests across state capitals and district headquarters.
Accusing the Governor of “undermining the dignity of his office” the Congress said, “The dangerous precedent strikes at the very heart of India’s democracy and portends grave consequences for all forthcoming election.” The party has decided that all the PCC presidents and senior leaders will lead a delegation to the Governors in their state and hand over memorandums urging the President of India to safeguard democratic principles and sanctity of constitution.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered that a floor test be conducted at 4pm, Saturday to determine whether the day-old BS Yeddyurappa government has the support of the required number of MLAs to continue in government. You can follow that on our LIVE blog here
Congress leaders protesting in Bengaluru.
The Congress had earlier accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading after it was invited by the governor to form the government, despite not having numbers. In the Karnataka elections, BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 104 seats but fell short of halfway mark. The Congress and JD(S) combine together have 115 seats.
The Congress on Friday came up with an audio recording in which of one of its MLAs was being allegedly bribed by saffron party leader Janardhan Reddy to vote in its favour. The development comes even as the BJP prepares to take the floor test in Karnataka assembly tomorrow. 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 Basanagouda that he should favour the BJP in the floor test and in return he can be made a minister.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while addressing a press conference said that BJP wanted vote of confidence via a secret ballot. "But, Supreme Court has written in its order that there shall be no secret ballot in proving vote of confidence tomorrow," he said.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday met Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik and staked claim to form government in the state. He was accompanied by the Congress, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and CPI(ML) leaders.
RJD claims if the party is given a chance it can easily clear the floor test. "We have a total of 111 MLAs and some unhappy JD(U) MLAs are in contact with us. We don't have MLAs in our party or alliance who will take u-turn like Nitish Kumar," Tejashwi Yadav told ANI.
We are going to prove our majority to the Governor. We stake claim to form the government. We have the support of many parties & MLAs of those parties are with us. Let's see what happens: Tejashwi Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal
There has been series of protests across the country by district congress committees over the decision of Governor Vajubhai Vala calling BJP to stake claim despite falling short of required numbers in the Karnataka assembly. ( Express photo by Arul Horizon)
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: Rahul Gandhi
Protest organized by @INCPuducherry against the violation of the Constitutional principles in Karnataka. #SaveDemocracyDay pic.twitter.com/LEW6EA0aai
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 18, 2018
The Congress has sought an appointment with President Ram Nath Kovind on behalf of like-minded opposition parties to appraise him about the Karnataka Governor inviting the BJP to form the government in the state even though there was a split verdict in the Assembly election. A Congress source said though the party has sought an appointment with Kovind tomorrow, they are likely to meet him next week in the view of the floor test be held in Karnataka Assembly tomorrow, as ordered by the Supreme Court, to ascertain whether newly appointed BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa enjoys majority in the state. (PTI)
The democracy is under a vicious attack today by the RSS and its hydra-headed affiliates, while the BJP Govt is the facilitator. It is imperative that we do not aide the BJP by maintaining silence: Congress.
(Source: Twitter/INCIndia)
Gujarat Congress leaders staged a protest at Lal Darwaja area of the city to protest against the decision of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, inviting the BJP to form the state government. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)
A bench of Justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan held a hearing and examined the letters dated May 15 and 16, written by Yeddyurappa to Governor Vala, staking claim to form the government. The SC bench has proposed a floor test to be held on Saturday.
We stand united to protest against the murder of democracy and the violation of Constitutional principles by the BJP in Karnakata.
Appointment with Goa Governor at noon. We are going to tell her that since her counterpart in Karnataka has called the single largest party, she should also call us now. We are the single largest party, will prove majority on the floor of the House: Yatish Naik, Goa Congress spokesperson
Their claim of a mandate is a sham. They neither had the majority nor the largest share of the popular vote. The formation of a BJP government by deceit, money and brazen abuse of power exposes the naked opportunism and hunger for power and their double standards: Anand Sharma
Congress has been targeting the Governor of Karnataka, in a statement, the party said, "Decision of Karnataka Governor's to invite Yeddyurappa to be sworn in as CM is the murder of democracy, violation of the constitution, negation of the law and subjugation of every known principle as also judgement of Supreme Court."
Congress leaders are likely to meet President Ram Nath Kovind during the day, reports suggest the party is seeking an appointment with the President.
The principle of the Governor’s “discretion” has been invoked to defend Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite B S Yeddyurappa, leader of the BJP legislature party, to form the government in Karnataka. By not staying the swearing-in on Thursday, the Supreme Court has tacitly acknowledged this discretion. What exactly does discretion mean in legal-constitutional situations such as this? READ MORE HERE
Hello, welcome to our Live Blog as we track the fallout of the Karnataka election results and the Congress protests across the nation. Track all developments here LIVE.