Yeddyurappa stakes claim, Cong tells Guv ‘save the Constitution’

New Delhi, May 16

The BJP's Chief Ministerial face, BS Yeddyurappa, on Wednesday staked claim to form the new government in Karnataka.

"We have staked claim to form the government as the single largest party with 104 newly elected legislators," Yeddyurappa told reporters here after meeting Governor Vajubhai R. Vala at Raj Bhavan.

Earlier in the day, the new Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers unanimously elected Yeddyurappa as their legislative party leader.

"I have requested the Governor to allow me to take oath as the Chief Minister at the earliest and the Governor said he would take an appropriate decision soon," Yeddyurappa said.

Meanwhile, JD(S) MLAs Raja Venkatappa Nayaka and Venkata Rao Nadagouda went missing from the JD(S) legislative partymeeting, which was held in a hotel in Bengaluru.

Senior Karnataka BJP leader KS Eshwarappa said their party was in touch with some Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs as they hope to stitch together a majority to form the government in the state.

There is no doubt we will form govt, 100% we'll do that. Wait and watch. Results came out only yesterday. It has been only a day. See what can happen in Karnataka in a day: KS Eshwarappa , BJP #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/X5IDtvkat5

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that JD(S) has all faith in their MLAs and nobody is going to go away, let BJP try, whatever they want to.  

Azad said, "The BJP may be the single-largest party, but it doesn't have the numbers and the Governor cannot take sides. Can a person who is there to save the Constitution, destroy it too? The Governor has to cut all its previous associations, be it BJP or RSS.”

All the Congress MLAs are intact. Nobody is missing. We are confident of forming the government: Siddaramaiah, Congress after reaching the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office for party legislative meeting. #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/kaPgKaUeag

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018

Bharatiya Janata Party national vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said that he is confident that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala will respect the party's position as the single-largest one and invite it to form the government.

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said, “All the Congress MLAs are intact. Nobody is missing. We are confident of forming the government.” 

The Congress on being asked if their MLAs in Karnataka would be shifted somewhere else, DK Shivakumar, said, “Yes, definitely there is a plan. We have to safeguard our MLAs.” 

He said, “They (BJP) are poaching our MLAs, we know that. There is a lot of pressure. But it not that easy as the two parties, Congress and the JD (S), have the necessary numbers. People are watching this.”

They (BJP) are poaching our MLAs, we know that. Everyday there is a lot of pressure. But it not so easy because two parties have the necessary number. People are watching this: DK Shivakumar, Congress #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/ByrMuW2o9X

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018

Ramalinga Reddy, another Congress leader, said: “BJP is trying hard to get our MLAs. They don't believe in democracy, BJP just wants power. All the people are happy, nobody is unhappy here.” Agencies

JD(S) & Congress have the numbers. I hope, the governor will discharge his constitutional duties & invite HD Kumaraswamy to talk. If BJP puts pressure on the governor, it will be the death of Democracy: Danish Ali, JD(S). #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/vNV3EBRAME

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018