Karnataka Governor invites Yeddyurappa to form govt; gives 15 days to prove majority

Bengaluru, May 16

Governor Vajubhai Vala on Wednesday invited BJP legislature party leader BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in Karnataka, capping a day of intense jockeying for power and allegations by the Congress of bribery and horse-trading against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I invite you (Yeddyurappa) to form the government and be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka,” a communique from the Raj Bhavan said.

Vala also asked Yeddyurappa to seek a vote of confidence within 15 days of assuming office as the chief minister.

Briefing reporters, BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao said Yeddyurappa will take oath here tomorrow at 9 am.

Toiling hard to control the levers of power in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy, the leader of the newly formed JD(S)-Congress alliance had earlier met Vala and staked claim to form the government.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala called Governor Vala “BJP’s puppet”.

Surjewala said the party will go to people’s court and exercise all legal and constitutional options to fight the Governor’s illegality of calling the BJP to form the government in Karnataka when the BJP does not have the numbers.

“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”.

In a press conference called at the party’s headquarters in Delhi, the Congress launched a scathing attack at the developments.

Addressing the press, Randeep Surjewala said: “We want to ask Amit Shah ji that if two parties cannot come together in post-poll coalition, then how did you form governments in Goa and Manipur by superseding the single largest party? The Governor has shamed his office”.

The BJP, meanwhile, accused the Congress of trying to subvert the Constitution.

“The party that blew up the constitution to shambles is teaching us the constitution, the party that imposed President rule the most number of times is giving us lessons,” Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The development comes within hours of Congress and the JD (S) submitting a list of 117 lawmakers supporting their claim to the government to Vala.

Saturday’s Assembly results threw up a hung Assembly in Karnataka, with no party having a clear majority. Although BJP emerged the single largest party, they were eight short of the halfway mark of 112 in the 224-member House.

As the BJP celebrated, the Congress and the JD (S) quickly cobbled up an alliance, and staked their claim to the government.   

HD Kumaraswamy, who would have headed the Congress-JD (S) government if they had succeeded, said that the Governor promised to “go by the Constitution”.

The Governor's letter is reproduced here:

I am in receipt of your letter dated 16th May, 2018 informing me that you have been elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party of Karnataka. I am also in receipt of your letter dated 15th May, 2018 staking claim to form the Government.”

I invite you to form the Government and be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. You may kindly indicate the date, time and the place for scheduling the swearing in ceremony.

I may also direct you that you would seek a vote of confidence on the floor of the House showing that you command the confidence of the House. This process shall be completed within fifteen days from the date of the assumption of your office as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

With regards,

Yours Vajubhai Vala

— Agencies   

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

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 16, 2018

LIVE: Special Press Conference on Encounter of Democracy by BJP in Karnataka https://t.co/hKaSgGylGx

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 16, 2018