Journalism of Courage
Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yeddyurappa was sworn in Chief Minister of Karnataka on Thursday, a day after the Governor Valubhai Vala invited the party to form government in the state. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
B S Yeddyurappa, who was elected the BJP’s legislative leader earlier on Wednesday, took oath at 9 am Thursday at Raj Bhawan in Bangalore. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly, had secured 104 seats in the 224-member House, just short of majority. Congress and JD(S) had won 78 and 37 seats, respectively. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
Yeddyurappa's swearing-in comes following a midnight to dawn hearing in the Supreme Court, which took up petitions filed by Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) seeking a stay on the swearing-in. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala invited BJP on Wednesday to form a new government in the state, and gave 15 days to prove its majority in the hung assembly. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
BJP workers dance and celebrate outside Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru after their leader BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
Supreme Court observed that it could not act on the Governor’s decision based on mere speculation. The bench will now take up the matter for hearing on Friday. (Express photo by Johnson T A)
The Congress is staging a protest outside the Vidhana Soudha (Karnataka Assembly) against Yeddyurappa's swearing-in. Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Congress leaders Ghulab Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge among others are sitting in protest.
The Congress-JD(S) alliance — which has 115 MLAs in its kitty — had met Governor Vala on Thursday and had staked claim to form the government.
Reacting to it, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy." (Express photo by Johnson T A)
