The Congress which stitched an alliance with JDS to keep BJP at bay claims to have 116 seats in the currently 222-member Assembly. The BJP, which is the single largest party with 104 seats, but fell short of the 112-seat majority was invited by Governor Vajubhai Vala to form the government.
The Congress had challenged the decision and in a rare overnight hearing the Supreme Court refused to stall the swearing-in but said that the government formation in the state would, however, be subject to the final outcome of the case before it.
Follow LIVE updates of our coverage of the Karnataka government formation on Sunday, May 20, here
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today hit out at the Congress, calling it 'arrogant' and its leadership 'feudal' for celebrating a 'victory of jugaad' after Yeddyurappa resigned as the Karnataka chief minister without facing the floor test.
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Naqvi used a popular couplet of Urdu poet Allama Iqbal and said there are several contests to go before the Congress burst into celebration. 'Advice to 'arrogant' Congress and its 'feudal leadership', who are celebrating 'victory of Jugaad' — 'Sitaron Ke Aage Jahan Aur Bhi Hain, Abhi Waqt Ke Imtehan Aur Bhi Hain' (there is world beyond stars, many test of times yet to be held). #FloorTest,' Minority Affairs Minister Naqvi said on Twitter.
-PTI
Former Union minister and Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath today said that the fall of three-day old Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka was a "tight slap" on the decision of the state's Governor. In a statement, Nath said, "Karnataka's Governor (Vajubhai Vala) was following the directives of Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and Shah (BJP president Amit Shah). The fall of Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka is a tight slap on the decision of the Governor. BJP should learn a lesson through this incident."
-PTI
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has 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.
"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.
-PTI
"I will invite Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi ji personally to attend the oath-taking ceremony," says Kumaraswamy. "We will call a session soon to prove our majority," he adds.
"I want to thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and other Congress leaders and MLAs for their support. I want to thank everyone, people of Karnataka, Mayawati ji for their support, says Kumaraswamy.
"The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Monday. I will take oath at Kanteerava Stadium. Governor invited me to form the government and asked me to prove the majority in 15 days," says Kumaraswamy.
Governor has invited us to form the government, says JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy after meeting Vajubhai Rahubhai Vala in Bengaluru.
BJP leader Ananth Kumar today 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 reporters in New Delhi. "The new government born out of unholy nexus of Congress and JD(S) won't stay for long. Only BJP can give the stable government. The mandate was given to BJP as the people of the state had rejected Congress," he said.
He said people of Karnataka rejected Congress and people of Chamundeshwari constituency rejected Siddaramaiah whereas JDS became a "marginal" party. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stop BJJ," he said.
_PTI
JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy will meet Governor Vajubhai Vala at 7.30 pm, to stake the claim for forming the government, reports ANI.
JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy has said the Congress-JDS combine was not in a hurry and was awaiting an invitation from Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rahubhai Vala for government formation in the state.
"We are not in a hurry. We are waiting for an invitation from the governor," he told reporters after Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as Karnataka chief minister without facing the vote of confidence in the Assembly.
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"Everyone will be happy about it. PM and BJP president tried to deride democracy. What message did they give by encouraging the corrupt? BJP brought back Janardhan Reddy to the forefront and did politics," ANI quoted Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu as saying after BS Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka CM.
"In the end, Rahul Gandhi said that all the opposition parties will unite together to defeat the BJP. A democracy gives political parties the right to form an alliance, however, what Rahul Gandhi is doing is negative politics against an individual (Narendra Modi). A coalition will only be strong when they swear their allegiance to a common ideology. An alliance without an ideology has no meaning," says Javadekar.
"Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the BJP is disrespecting the institutions of the nation, including the press. Have they forgotten how the Congress had oppressed the media during Emergency? And how is it that the BJP is disrespecting the Parliament when in actuality it is the Congress which is constantly disrupting the Parliament. And again it was the Congress that had called for an impeachment motion on the Chief Justice of India. The Congress has also disrespected the CAG because it unsurfaced the 2G scam," says Javadekar.
"Congress has no faith in our election commission, they don't trust Parliament. They have made a joke out of our parliament, " says Javadekar. "Rahul Gandhi's allegation that PM Modi is a corrupt person is laughable as it is Congress who has always been involved in corruption," he adds.
"We defeated Congress and emerged as the single largest party in Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi's comment that Congress has defeated BJP is laughable. Congress-JD(S) alliance is a surrender deal," says Javadekar.
BS Yeddyurappa has shown how one should respect democracy and resigned. his speech has touched the hearts of people, says BJP leader Prakash Javadekar.
"This is a big blow for them(BJP) and I think what they had been planning all along for 2019 has failed, they will now have to rethink and alter their strategies," Mayawati on BS Yeddyurappa's resignation as Karnataka CM.
"We are waiting for invitation from the Governor's House," JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy on being asked when he will take oath as Chief Minister
"What is he saying about PM Modi? This is the PM who has provided a scam less govt. If he puts such an allegation, the people will say he has lost his mind," Ananth Kumar, BJP on Rahul Gandhi's statement, 'PM is corruption.'
My message to PM Modi is that you are not bigger than the country, or its people, says Rahul Gandhi
I am proud that opposition stood together & defeated the BJP and we will continue to do so: Rahul Gandhi after BS Yeddyurappa's resignation as Karnataka CM
One saw how the BJP tried to poach JD(S) MLAs, says Rahul Gandhi, adding that PM Modi is doing everything to subvert nation
Did you notice that after the entire exercise in Karnataka Vidhan Sabha, the BJP legislators & speaker chose to leave the house before the national anthem? It shows they can disrespect any institution when in power, both BJP & RSS have disrespected institutions: Rahul Gandhi
Idea that the Prime Minister is spreading around the country that he's fighting corruption is a big lie, says Rahul Gandhi.
There are limits to your arrogance and how you're trying to run this country. Hope BJP, RSS take lessons from this, Rahul Gandhi
In India power is not everything, money is not everything, corruption is not everything, but will of people is everything, says Rahul Gandhi
You can disrespect any institution in this country simply because you happen to be in power, This is something BJP, RSS do again and again, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will make a statement shortly at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi in a while
H D Kumaraswamy says he will indicate Monday May 21 as his swearing-in date for the new JDS Congress coalition government when called to form government by the Governor.
BS Yeddyurappa reaches Raj Bhavan after resigning as CM.
Read | Yeddyurappa’s resignation speech in Karnataka assembly: Top quotes
"Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front," West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote on Twitter.
"Karnataka has won. BJP's unconstitutional efforts to rule have failed. Their illegal means of manufacturing a majority stands exposed. Congress & JD(S) have fought & upheld democracy. Karnataka will now get a stable Govt that will focus on Development," Congress' Karnataka handle said in a tweet. Rahul Gandhi is also expected to address the media briefly.
The Congress-JD(S) combine will stake claim
A new CM will be sworn-in
The new CM will also go for a floor test
Yes, the drama has not ended.
"Seats not important, anger against government matters. I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people," an emotional BS Yeddyurappa said, as he announced his resignation. "I will travel across the state non stop. We have received tremendous love and support across the state. For 2019, I promise, we will win 28 out of all 28 Lok Sabha seats. I won't relent. I will continue to fight. I hereby resign as CM. I thak people of Karnataka. Be it in power or in the opposition, I'll continue to fight for the rights of the people of Karnataka."
'If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state a paradise. I had many dreams of developing Karnataka. We will get 28 out of 28 seats in Lok Sabha,' an emotional BSY told House. "The Prime Minister never discriminated against Karnataka. He was always ready to help people of Karnataka Karnataka only needs honest politicians I have faced the test by fire all my life BJP has full faith in Democracy."
Attacking Congress and JDS over their "unholy alliance," the CM said, "Those who were swearing on the names of each other's fathers and calling each other names before polls, have now come together to form this unholy alliance."
"Farmers in my state have undergone great agony over last five years. Welfare of farmers has always been my top priority. I have pledged to work for the welfare of farmers till my last breath. I promise that I will fight for the rights and welfare of my farmers and the weak till my last breath. My whole life has been a constant fight. I will continue to fight for what is right," Yeddyurappa told the House before the floor test.
"I have traveled length and breadth of Karnataka in last one and a half years. I have visited each constituency multiple times and people have bestowed me with the immense amount of love. I wholeheartedly thank them for their affection," the CM said
CM Yeddyurappa is addressing the House. "PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah made me CM candidate. Our party has never announced the CM's face before the polls," he says as he recalls his journey in the party. Adding that he cannot forget the love and blessings of people of Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said, "People rejected Congress-JDS. The mandate wasn't for them. We have the support of 104 seats."
(Source: ANI)
Congress leader Anand Singh has reached the House. A lot of speculation over his support was generated after Singh did not show up at the Congress legislative meet held earlier this week. Anand Singh, former Karnataka Minister and two-time MLA from Vijayanagar in Ballari, quit BJP in January 2018 to join Congress ahead of the Assembly elections this year. He left the BJP saying there was “constant squabbling and bickering” in the party. Then Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said Singh left BJP and joined the Congress as there was “no place for secular principles there."
BJP leader Somasekhara Reddy who refrained from the swearing-in ceremony held earlier in the day denied having any contact with Congress leaders Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil, who were also 'missing.' 'I was with my brother in Taj West End. Nobody was in my contact. I don't even know who are they, Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil (Congress MLAs). I did not even go to Goldfinch Hotel,' he reportedly told ANI
Taking a jibe against PM Narendra Modi over the alleged bribe tapes, Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Twitter wrote, 'PM @narendramodi never tires of lecturing the nation on corruption. Does he have the moral courage to advice BJP Karnataka & BS Yeddyurappa to stop these attempts to bribe MLAs, and allow the formation of a stable coalition Government in the interest of Karnataka?'