Karnataka state Governor Vajubhai Vala, right, administers the oath of office to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B.S. Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister of the southern state in Bangalore, India, Friday, July 26, 2019. (AP)
Karnataka government Highlights: BS Yediyurappa Friday took oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka for the fourth time after the BJP was invited to stake a claim. Yeddyurappa was sworn in at Raj Bhavan by the Governor. The development comes three days after the JD(S)-Congress coalition government lost a trust vote on the floor of the state legislative Assembly.
“I just met the Governor to form the government and take oath as chief minister,” Yeddyurappa had said. This is the fourth stint for Yediyurappa as the Chief Minister– the last one was after the May 2018 Assembly polls, when he barely lasted three days after being sworn in.
The Congress in a press conference questioned Karnataka Governor on how BJP has been given a chance to form the government without a majority. Party leader Siddaramaiah alleged, “BJP has the strength of 105 which is way less than the halfway mark. In no way, BJP can form the Karnataka govt if the Constitution is followed.”
Karnataka government formation live updates: BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa speaks during the Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, Friday, July 19, 2019. (PTI Photo: Shailendra Bhojak)
Highlights
"I will discuss with Amit Shah ji & other leaders. If necessary, I will go to Delhi tomorrow, we will take the decision afterwards."
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I thank people of the state who gave me the opportunity to be the Chief Minister. My Chief Minister's post is the respect to the people of the state. I have taken two prominent decisions in the Cabinet meeting. In addition to the Prime Minister Kisan Scheme, I will also provide two installments of Rs. 2000 to the beneficiaries.
"I am sure under his leadership and under the guidance of PM Modi, BJP will give a stable, pro-farmer and development oriented govt in the State. I assure people of Karnataka that BJP is committed to fulfil their aspirations."
Governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 76-year old Yediyurappa at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. Yediyurappa alone was sworn-in. Yediyurappa-led BJP ministry is assuming office three days after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government with the defeat of the motion of confidence moved by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy in the assembly by 99-105 votes. (PTI)
Just In | BS Yediyurappa takes oath as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Suspended Congress MLA R Roshan Baig present at Raj Bhavan to attend Yediyurappa’s swearing-in.
The BJP leader whose party is the single largest in the legislature with 105 members was invited by the Governor to form the government in May 2018. The government lasted only for two days because Yeddyurappa could not prove his majority in the 224 member house where the Congress-JDS combination mustered a superior number of 116.
Explained: Why Yeddyurappa’s new government is also not on safe ground
BJP State President BS Yediyurappa reaches Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. He will take oath as Chief Minister, today.
BJP Karnataka chief B S Yeddyurappa has reverted to the earlier English spelling of his name B S Yediyurappa, apparently influenced by numerology. The change became public on Friday in his letter to Governor Vajubhai Vala, staking claim to form the government, and later, in the official invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP leader as Karnataka chief minister.
BJP State President BS Yediyurappa reached Raj Bhavan. He will take oath as Chief Minister at 6.00 pm.
BJP State President BS Yediyurappa offers prayers at Kadu Malleshwara temple in Bengaluru. He will take oath as Chief Minister at 6 pm, today.
Karnataka Chief Minister-designate B S Yediyurappa has instructed heads of all departments to put on hold orders relating to new projects that were issued in the current month by the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government until further review. He has also put on hold all transfers that were cleared, but have not been executed. (PTI)
"I have requested Governor to administer me oath between 6-6:15 p.m as the Chief Minister. The Governor has agreed and given me a letter," Yeddyurappa told reporters after meeting Vala at Raj Bhavan. He said, "who all are to be inducted (in the ministry), I will discuss it with our national president and inform." Yeddyurappa said as he is already Leader of the Opposition, there is no need to call a Legislature Party meeting to elect him the leader. (PTI)
BJP Karnataka President and Chief Minister-designate BS Yeddyurappa greets veteran army officer on his arrival to pay tribute to Kargil war martyrs on the 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in Bengaluru. (PTI)
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje on Friday asserted that BS Yeddyurappa, who will take oath as Karnataka chief minister in the evening, enjoys the support of a majority of MLAs in the state assembly and he will provide a stable government. "Yeddyurappa staked claim to form the government only after getting a nod from the central leadership. He and the central leaders are on the same page," the Lok Sabha MP from the state said. (PTI)
JD(S), which was the Congress' ruling coalition partner, said the Governor's decision to permit Yeddyurappa to take the oath without raising any doubt was "anti-democratic." "Corruption Icon and Former Jail Bird Shri@ BSYBJP has used his excellent Horse Trading skills to subvert democracy and come to power," the state Congress tweeted. "People of Karnataka remember his disastrous tenure as CM between 2008-11, which ended with BSY in Jail," it said.
BS Yediyurappa will address party workers at Jagannatha Bhavan, BJP Karnataka headquarters in Bangalore before leaving for the oath-taking ceremony in Raj Bhavan: BJP leaders
"BJP does not have the numbers to prove majority yet. The Governor continues to act like a BJP agent. The invitation extended by him to Yeddyurappa to form the government is unconstitutional. It is against the mandate given by the people of Karnataka," claims Congress' leader Adv. VS Ugrappa during press conference.
After receiving a green signal from the Governor, Yeddyurappa will be sworn in as Karnataka CM today. Security outside Raj Bhavan where the former CM will take oath today at 6 pm has been beefed up.
At today's oath-taking ceremony at 6 pm, it is likely that Yeddyurappa will be sworn in alone or along with a very small team. BJP leaders have indicated that it is unlikely that a full Cabinet will take oath today.
Confirming backing by BJP at the national level, Karnataka MP Shobha Karandlaje claimed they would prove majority and are ready to welcome rebel MLAs to join BJP. She said, "Today BS Yeddyurappa ji has staked claim to form Govt, party high command has supported him. Numbers in assembly are not a problem, also the rebel MLAs are firm on their stand and if they want to join BJP, we will welcome them."
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader and ex-MP VS Ugrappa will be addressing a press conference today at the Bengaluru KPCC Office at 1 pm. Ugrappa, who is a lawyer by profession on the behalf of Congress is likely to present legal issues on how BJP has been given a chance to form government without majority.
After Karnataka Governor gave his nod to BJP to form government, Yeddyurappa will now have to prove majority by July 31. "BJP has the strength of 105 which is way less than the halfway mark. In no way, BJP can form the Karnataka govt if the Constitution is followed. This only proves that BJP has no belief in democratic values," alleges Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
After meeting with the Governor, Yeddyurappa said "I have requested Governor to administer me oat between 6-6.15 pm as the Chief Minister, the Governor has agreed and given me a letter." He added: "Who all are to be inducted (in the ministry), I will discuss with our national president and inform." Yeddyurappa said he will also be sending a letter of invitation to outgoing Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah for the swearing-in ceremony. "I will also try to contact Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah over phone, to invite them personally," he added.
B S Yeddyurappa's swearing-in ceremony to happen at 6 pm today at Raj Bhavan
The Indian Express had reported that the BJP on Tuesday, just after the fall of the Kumaraswamy-led government, initially indicated it would not rush to stake claim to government formation. However, as the day wore on, the party drew up plans to approach Raj Bhavan either Thursday or Friday to press its claim. "Things will be on fast-forward in Bengaluru on Thursday," party sources said that evening. Yeddyurappa had also said he was “awaiting instructions from Delhi” before going to the Governor.
Outside Raj Bhavan, BJP leaders say: "Got a phone call from Delhi and a final nod from BJP chief Amit Shah with the go-ahead." The meeting in Raj Bhavan was attended by Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Alok Kumar as well. Security will be heightened across the city ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has given Yeddyurappa assent to stake claim to form government in the state and he will be sworn in as the state Chief Minister at 6 pm today.
Welcome to our live blog on the Karnataka government formation. BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa is at Raj Bhavan, in a meeting with Governor Vajubhai Vala to stake claim to form the government. Yeddyurappa told reporters that he would seek permission to hold the swearing-in ceremony today.