Karnataka election twists are not done yet. Governor Vajubhai Vala invited BJP leader Yeddyurappa to form the government and gave him 15 days to prove majority. Congress filed a plea in Supreme court against BS Yeddyurappa swearing-in tomorrow.

The petition is being heard from 2AM after Supreme court Chief justice Dipak Misra asked three-judge bench of justices AK Sikri, A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan to hear the case at 1AM. Congress filed this urgent petition shortly before midnight. For the second time, Supreme Court is holding an overnight hearing and it was in July 2015 for the first time to hear the last minute petition against execution of Yakub Memon, convicted in 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Congress’s legal team head Abhishek Sanghvi readied his petition in case if Governor invites Yeddyurappa to form the government though the Congress-JD(s) has more numbers. BJP emerged as single largest with 105 lawmakers, but 7 short to form the government, while Congress got 78 seats and their alliance with JDS gives them 116 seats, enough to form the government.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala came down heavily on governor for giving a chance to BJP to ‘horse-trade’ time of 15 days. He alleged that Governor has subjugated the law and shamed the governor’s office. Janata Dal Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy called the governor’s act unconstitutional.

Ending deadlock in Karnataka over the split verdict, BJP’s CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa has been invited to form the government by the state Governor Vajubhai Vala. Governor has sent a letter to Yeddyurappa’s residence inviting him to sworn in as the new CM. With this, Yeddyurappa  would sworn in as the new CM of Karnataka tomorrow (May 17, 2018), Thursday.  He will take the oath tomorrow.

Governor has given 15 days time to Saffron party to prove the majority. With this, Yeddyurappa has comfortable time till May 29, 2018. As of now, Yeddyurappa has the support of 105 MLAs including one independent. He needs the support of 7 more MLAs to reach magic figure and thus sustain the government.

Earlier even before a formal announcement from the Governor’s office, BJP Karnataka’s tweet stating Yeddyurappa would take the oath as CM tomorrow had created huge stir.

On the whole, this is a major blow to Congress and JD(S) who are seeking opportunity to form the government considering the coalition with largest majority. Since this is contrary to what had happened in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, Congress and JD(S) are fuming over Governor.

Reacting on the development, Congress’ spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala wrote, “Vajubhai Vala denigrates the Governor’s office,tramples upon Constitution,abuses the law & acts as a BJP puppet. He chooses to serve his Master’s in BJP rather then serve the Constitution. As @BJPKarnataka informed in advance, orders come from BJP HQ then the sanctity of office”

All eyes are on what will be the future course of action from Kumaraswamy and Congress.

The Supreme Court has refused to stay the swearing-in of BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka. A bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan was specially convened at odd hours to hear the petition which challenges the Governor Vajubhai Vala’s communication to Yeddyurappa to be sworn in as CM.

Challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite BS Yeddyurappa to sworn-in as the next Chief Minister and allowing him to prove majority within 15 days, Congress senior leader and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi moved the Supreme Court on last night. A petition is filed by the Congress and JD(S) leaders against the Karnataka Governor’s decision late on Wednesday (May 16) and sought the hearing late in the night. At 1.15 AM, Supreme Court has decided to hear the Congress petition in the wee hours. At 2.15 AM, Supreme Court bench comprising justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, have commenced hearing on the matter. Attorney General KK Venugopal, ASG Maninder Singh in court for hearing.

Abhishek Singhvi, representing Congress and JD(S), told the justices that BJP has 104 MLAs and Governor invited BS Yeddyurappa to form govt in “unconstitutional manner”. He said JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy with Congress has 116 MLAs. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing BJP and BS Yeddyurappa, retored saying no injunction can be issued to Governor.

Singhvi has raised the issue of Goa and how Congress was deprived to form the government in Goa despite being single largest party. He reminded that then SC had upheld government formation by BJP and asked to form the same norm now.

Responding on the case, the Supreme Court bench noted that it is necessary to peruse the letters dated May 15 and May 16 submitted by Yeddyurappa to Governor for claiming stake for government formation. The bench asked Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre and Yeddyurappa to produce these letters on next hearing tomorrow at 10.30 am. The court made it clear that its order allowing swearing-in and government formation by the BJP in Karnataka is subject to the outcome of the case before it.

 It also issued notices to the Karnataka government and Yeddyurappa as it was clarified by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi that he was appearing for three BJP MLAs — Govind M Karjol, C M Udasi and Basavaraj Bommai.

BSY Swears-In as 23rd CM of Karnataka

Meanwhile, BS Yedyurappa has sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Thursday morning. He has sworn-in as the new CM as the successor to the Congress CM Siddaramaiah. JD(S) and Congress leaders have staged protests across the state. Considering protests, forces have been deployed to ensure the swearing-in ceremony smoothly.

At the moment, all eyes are on what will be the Supreme Court’s verdict after perusal of the letters of MLAs of both teams – BJP and JD(S)-Congress.

Creating a storm Karnataka BJP’s tweet claimed that Governor Vajubhai Vala has invited the single largest party BJP to form the government in the state. As per the tweet, Vajubhai has invited BS Yeddyurappa to form the next government and Yeddyurappa would sworn in as the CM tomorrow (May 17, 2018), Thursday. However, the tweet was deleted within minutes. Even as the communique from Governor is still awaited, Karnataka BJP’s tweet has stirred a storm.

Media reports indicate that Governor’s decision would be made public soon. Several media reports stated that Yeddyurappa would take oath tomorrow and he would be given time till May 29th to prove the strength. Though an official confirmation from Governor is awaited, reports say that it is likely that Yeddyurappa would be invited to form the next government since he is the leader of the legislature party of the BJP that emerged as the single largest party.

If reports turn out to be true, it will be a major blow to to Kumaraswamy who has backing of Congress and has the majority to form the government due to post-poll alliance.

The people of Karnataka earlier gave a split verdict. Neither BJP nor Congress nor JD(S) have got numbers to form the government. While BJP got 104 seats, Congress won in 78, JD(S) won in 38 and others in 2 seats. Since any party needs magic figure of 112 since elections were held only in 222 constituencies out of total 224, BJP is still short of 8 MLAs.

While BJP claims to have the support of 4 MLAs from Congress, it still needs to get four more MLAs. Hence, it has become crucial how BJP will get these numbers. If Governor decides in favour of Yeddyurappa, huge uproar from JD(S) and Congress is expected since it will be considered as against to the previous precedents set in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya where the largest coalition is invited to form the government.

As of now tension continues with huge flak from opposition parties and several sections of people, it needs to be seen what will be the Governor’s decision.