BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa was administered the chief minister’s oath of office and secrecy by the Governor at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan amid loud cheering by his supporters on Thursday morning. Earlier today, the Supreme Court refused to stay the swearing-in after a rare post-midnight courtroom battle unfolded dramatically over the Congress-JD(S) combine’s legal push to stall government formation. After a nearly three-and-a-half-hour hearing beginning 2:11 AM, a three-judge apex court bench also made it clear that the swearing-in and the government formation would be subject to the final outcome of the case before it. We bring you live action from Bengaluru and New Delhi as the Congress-JD(S) strive to keep their flock together amid efforts by the BJP to break away MLAs:
4.33 pm: BS Yeddyurappa, the Karnataka CM sworn-in a few hours ago, has reportedly withdrawn security from Bengaluru’s Eagleton Resort where the Congress’s newly elected MLAs are staying.
4.22 pm:
In 2017, we won 17 seats & were single largest party & continue to be but Governor chose to invite the BJP which had 13 seats. In Karnataka, Governor invited BJP as they are the single largest party. So, we appeal to Governor to invite us to form govt: Yatish Naik, Congress #Goa pic.twitter.com/EqCl4bxi1j
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
4.20 pm: In Goa:
Congress Goa in-charge Chella Kumar to leave for Goa today, he with other party leaders will meet the Guv tomorrow & say that being the single largest party Congress should be invited to form govt in Goa. If necessary Congress can parade its MLAs also at Governor house: Sources pic.twitter.com/yLoYAPO98t
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
4.09 pm: After Goa, now Rastriya Janata Dal, the single largest party in Bihar assembly, to meet governor.
I will meet Honourable Governor of Bihar along with MLAs as we are single largest party of Bihar.
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 17, 2018
कर्नाटक में लोकतंत्र की हत्या के विरोध में कल पटना में राजद का एक दिवसीय धरना होगा। हम राज्यपाल महोदय से माँग करते है कि वो वर्तमान बिहार सरकार को भंग कर कर्नाटक की तर्ज़ पर राज्य की सबसे बड़ी पार्टी राजद को सरकार बनाने का मौका दें।
मैं भाजपा के तर्क पर यह दावा ठोंक रहा हूँ।
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 17, 2018
अगर बिहार में Post Poll Alliance को राज्यपाल द्वारा निमंत्रण देकर सरकार बनाई जा सकती है तो कर्नाटक में क्या दिक़्क़त है?
अन्यथा बिहार में भी सबसे बड़ी पार्टी को सरकार बनाने का निमंत्रण देना चाहिए।
चित भी इनकी पट भी इनकी…
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 16, 2018
3.34 pm: The Congress in Goa, where the party emerged as the single largest party in last year’s election but was not invited to form a government, has decided to parade all its 16 MLAs outside Raj Bhavan to protest against the Karnataka governor’s decision to invite BJP, the single largest party, to form government. The Congress MLAs in Goa are likely to march to Raj Bhavan on Friday, reports claimed.
3.20 pm: More comments on the governor:
If similar results show up in 2019 & BJP forces President to behave in this fashion…scary situation for India
— Sid (@sidmtweets) May 16, 2018
3.10 pm: Centre wants to demolish democracy, misusing ED to threaten MLAs: JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy
3.05 pm: Congress-JDS moves fresh plea in SC, reports Times of India.
Congress-JD(S) says since the CM has not yet proven his majority in the floor of the House, the council of ministers headed by him cannot recommend the nomination of an MLA https://t.co/FELTF0omMK
— Times of India (@timesofindia) May 17, 2018
#JUSTIN | Cong-JDS moves fresh plea in SC challenging Governor’s decision to nominate an Anglo-Indian MLA to Assembly. SC to hear their plea on Friday along with main case#KarnatakaElections #KarnatakaCMRace
LIVE updates: https://t.co/ifBpHAwkKt
— Times of India (@timesofindia) May 17, 2018
2.50 pm: Old tweets of Congress and BJP leaders resurface and make a mockery of their present stand.
The present and former Finance Minister can safely retweet each other’s tweets 😛 pic.twitter.com/UBoI39r9Em
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 17, 2018
2.38 pm: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh said, “Democracy has been brazenly manipulated, massacred and murdered.”
Democracy has been brazenly manipulated, mutilated and massacred in Karnataka. It does not augur well for the future of India. All eyes are now on the Supreme Court to come out in protection of the Constitutional ethos on which the very foundation of our nation rests.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 17, 2018
2.28 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh commented on Karnataka issue.
The Governor is going against the Constitution.The role of Governor is being dictated by the govt. He was a RSS member and a Cabinet Minister under Modi Saheb in Gujarat. It is obvious that he will listen to the Centre: Capt. Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM #KarnatakaElections pic.twitter.com/AbDT2Ul8g6
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
2.25 PM: “116 MLAs of Congress and JDS unitedly protest,” tweeted Dinesh Gundu Rao.
116 MLA’s of @INCKarnataka & @JanataDal_S unitedly protesting against the unconstitutional,illegal swearing in of @BSYBJP as CM. It’s back to corrupt practises,horse trading & blackmailing politics by @BJP4Karnataka, after 5 years of peace,stability & progress. pic.twitter.com/mAiBeThtmQ
— Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) May 17, 2018
2.15 pm: HD Kumaraswamy meets JD(S) MLAs at a Bengaluru hotel.
HD Kumaraswamy Holds Crucial Meet with JDS MLAs at Shangri La Hotel: https://t.co/DKSnSNH8oQ via @YouTube
— tv9kannadanews (@Tv9kannadanews) May 17, 2018
2.10 pm: Congress alleges that BJP is threatening their MLA Anand Singh.
Cong leader DK Shivakumar tells @IndiaToday tv: Anand Singh our MLA is being threatened with a revival of IT cases and raids if he doesn’t join BJP; Singh is a mining baron with several cases against him. Looks like ‘saam daam’ politics in full swing! #KarnatakaNataka
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 17, 2018
2.00 pm: Advocate Amrutesh files PIL against BJP government in Karnataka.
Advocate NP Amrutesh files PIL in Karnataka High Court against BJP forming Govt in the state. PIL states Court should not allow defection of MLAs to BJP through resigning or cross voting.
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
1.55 pm: “Karnataka governor is acting like BJP’s agent,” Anand Sharma to CNN News 18.
#BattleForKarnataka – What BJP is doing is against democracy. Democracy should be respected. Elections will lose value if this system continues. K’Taka governor is working like BJP’s agent: Anand Sharma, Congress. pic.twitter.com/sHJ46ptM1e
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
1.52 pm: Karnataka Congress social media in charge commented on the issue:
Bengaluru MLAs and MPs of BJP are very worried about their own seats now because of Yeddyurappa’s moves. BJP will be wiped out in at-least 10 Districts and these MLAs are unlikely to back Yeddyurappa as CM. #UnconstitutionalCMYeddy
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) May 17, 2018
1.46 pm: Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu keeps forgetting that he is not a BJP leader now.
#BREAKING #EXCLUSIVE | Democracy is in safe hands: Vice-President @MVenkaiahNaidu tells CNN-News18’s @DeepaSinghSays | #BattleForKarnataka pic.twitter.com/ehrbTP5WFX
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
1.45 pm: “Congress will hold a dharna at Rajghat at 5.45 pm today,” Times Now reported.
1.41 pm: Karnataka Congress MLA Priyank Kharge told media to ask tough questions to the BJP:
Dear Media, instead of asking INC & JDS, if our MLAs are being poached at a price, muster up enough courage to ask BJP how much they are offering the MLAs?
Everyone except the Governor seems to know that 116>104. #KarnatakaCMRace— Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge) May 17, 2018
1.39 pm: Congress leader and former Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar said, “God will save us.”
‘God is There He will Save Us’ DK Shivakumar Says: https://t.co/vo4NuFhblv via @YouTube
— tv9kannadanews (@Tv9kannadanews) May 17, 2018
1.33 pm: DMK leader MK Stalin slams PM Narendra Modi.
#BattleForKarnataka – All of us saw how PM Modi misused the office of Governor in Tamil Nadu. The same has been done in Karnataka. This is totally against democracy and rule of law. We condemn it: MK Stalin, DMK | ANI pic.twitter.com/HS7cukqNrc
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
1.30 pm: Congress MLAs arrive at a Bengaluru resort.
Congress MLAs arrive at #EagletonResort in Bengaluru. #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/69wqVp5O02
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
1.24 pm: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad repeats:
Congress Party has a history of disrespecting the mandate of people.Congress Govt had dismissed BJP Govt’s in MP,Rajasthan & Delhi along with UP govt after demolition of disputed structure in Ayodhya on 6th Dec. 1992. Govt in these 3 states had nothing to do with Ayodhya incident pic.twitter.com/1NHy4quYeH
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) May 17, 2018
1.15 pm: Comments on Governor Vala:
Vajubhai Vala is our last great libertarian. He wants to facilitate free trade and the operation of market forces. He knows the invisible hand will fix everything. But Chrislamocommies are shouting him down because they don’t understand the principles of liberty. #LIbertarian4Lyf
— Vinay Aravind (@vinayaravind) May 17, 2018
1.08 pm: PM Narendra Modi’s old tweet surfaces. The context, however, suits the present.
He’s got a tweet for every instance when democracy is subverted. Only problem is that they are from the past. pic.twitter.com/f7d6g4N5Ul
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 17, 2018
1.07 pm: The independent MLAs are jumping, hopping and skipping!
The man with shawl is R Shankar – independent MLA. He was with bjp in the morning , then congress by noon, bjp in the night. This morning sits with congress to protest against BJP. @IndiaToday @rahulkanwal pic.twitter.com/jFXklCKHOM
— Nagarjun Dwarakanath (@nagarjund) May 17, 2018
1.04 pm: Veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who has moved the Supreme Court against the Karnataka governor’s move commented on the issue.
#BattleForKarnataka – Congress are busy people and they don’t require me. There should be open publicity of what the BJP has said to the governor that he has taken such a stupid action: Ram Jethmalani, senior lawyer pic.twitter.com/qvhFEecfhP
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
1.02 pm: Former Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar exudes confidence.
It is a short lived Govt, we are confident because we have the majority.We will fight for justice. 100% all our MLAs are with us: DK Shivakumar,Congress #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/6QSwaHW7Pg
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
1.00 pm:
The BJP no longer needs to win an election. As long as corporates continue to fund them, they will buy every election until they do away with elections altogether. https://t.co/lhAfQBAP6M
— Sonia Faleiro (@soniafaleiro) May 16, 2018
12.47 pm: Governor had no business to create this horse-treading business. BJP will have to prove majority now: Prithviraj Chavan, Former Maharashtra CM to CNN News 18
#BattleForKarnataka – Governor had no business to create this horse-treading business. BJP will have to prove majority now: Prithviraj Chavan, Former Maharashtra CM pic.twitter.com/r9gbqtLhcm
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
12.44 pm: BSP won one seat in Karnataka elections. Mayawati says, “The BJP is conspiring to destroy the Constitution.”
It is a conspiracy to destroy the constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar, since they (BJP) came to power they have been misusing government machinery, thereby attacking democracy : BSP chief Mayawati on BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa being sworn in as Karnataka CM pic.twitter.com/8AWBOJRbnB
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
12.40 pm: Congress and JD (S) MLAs might be shifted to Vizag or Hyderabad as Opposition offers ‘shelter’, suggests CNNNews 18.
#BattleForKarnataka – Opposition governments offer ‘Shelter’ to Congress, JD(S) MLAs. The MLAs may shift to Vizag or Hyderabad.#LIVE UPDATES – https://t.co/IoKrCpKk9m pic.twitter.com/kgCbnLYEMh
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
12.36 pm: On the issue of proving majority, BJP leader B Sriramulu says, “Work will be done.”
Independent MLAs hamare touch mein hain, kaam ho jaega: BJP MLA B. Sriramulu on being asked about proving majority in floor test #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/7p0h48oHg9
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
12.32 pm: Commenting on the Karnataka issue, AAP leaders Sanjay Singh says Manipur, Goa, and Meghalaya government should be dismissed:
मणिपुर,मेघालय,गोवा,बिहार की सरकार भंग करके सबसे बड़े दल को सरकार बनाने का मौक़ा दिया जाय। pic.twitter.com/VcQDMtIEuV
— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) May 17, 2018
12.29 pm: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah says all Congress-JDS MLAs and two independent MLAs are at protest site.
All Congress and JD(S) MLAs are here, all 118 MLAs: Siddaramaiah at protest outside Raj Bhawan #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/lH0r1Nk4kM
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
12.26 pm: Senior lawyer and jurist Ram Jethmalani moved the Supreme Court in his personal capacity against the Karnataka governor’s decision to invite the BJP to form government in the state, saying it was a “gross abuse of constitutional power”. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the submission of Jethmalani seeking urgent hearing and said that a three-judge special bench, which had heard the matter in the early hours, would re-assemble on Friday. The bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked the veteran lawyer to make his submission before the three-judge bench led by Justice A K Sikri on May 18 when the petitions filed by the Congress party and the JD (S) would be taken up for further hearing.
12.19 pm: Amidst the ongoing tussle, Amit Shah reminds countrymen of former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s act. History books back with the BJP! Anyone surprised?
President of the Congress obviously doesn’t remember the glorious history of his party.
The legacy of Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s Party is the horrific Emergency, blatant misuse of Article 356, subverting the courts, media and civil society.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 17, 2018
Who has the people’s mandate in Karnataka?
The BJP, which has won 104 seats.
Or
Congress which dropped to 78 seats, whose own CM and Ministers lost by big margins.
JD(S) who won only 37 seats and lost their deposits on several others.People are wise to realise.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 17, 2018
The ‘Murder of Democracy’ happens the minute a desperate Congress made an ‘opportunist’ offer to the JD(S), not for Karnataka’s welfare but for their petty political gains. Shameful!
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 17, 2018
12.16 pm: Columnist Shivam Vij comments on the governor’s role.
To end the culture of horse trading and the influence of the central government in deciding what happens in case of a hung assembly, Parliament should enact a law codifying what the governor is to do in case no one has majority. Leave no room for discretion.
— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) May 16, 2018
12.11 pm: Rahul Gandhi speaks on the Karnataka government formation row.
Today constitution is being attacked. In Karnataka on one side there are MLAs standing and on the other side the Governor. JDS has said its MLAs have been offered Rs 100 crore each: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/XjlbOh65kc
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
12.10 pm: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is confident that Congress-JDS will form the government.
#EXCLUSIVE — #BattleForKarnataka: Whatever BJP is doing is unconstitutional. 100% sure we will form the govt: @siddaramaiah, Former Karnataka CM#LIVE UPDATES – https://t.co/IoKrCpKk9m pic.twitter.com/SAbRXRfm6d
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 17, 2018
12.07 pm: HD Kumaraswamy wants Opposition to unite against BJP.
I will request my father (HD Deve Gowda) to take the lead & talk to all regional parties & see how BJP is destroying democratic systems, we have to come together to protect interests of the country: JD(S)’s HD Kumaraswamy #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/KpzWZUlPHr
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
12.06 pm: Kanhaiya Kumar on the Constitutional crisis in Karnataka:
2014 में जीतकर शपथ ली थी, 2018 में खरीदकर शपथ ले रहे हैं, हर कोशिश करेगें कि 2025 में शपथ ही न लेनी पड़े।
वैसे हर तानाशाह को यह भ्रम होता है कि वो कभी हारेगा ही नहीं।
लड़ेंगे-जीतेंगे!!
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) May 17, 2018
12.05 pm: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav termed Yeddurappa’s swearing in as “murder of democracy”.
आज फिर लोकतंत्र की शपथ ली जाएगी
आज फिर एक बार और हत्या की जाएगी
आज फिर सत्ता की हनक दिखाई जाएगी
आज फिर ज़मीर की मंडी सजाई जायेगी
आज फिर आज़ादी थोड़ी और मर जायेगी— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 17, 2018
12.03 pm:
Demonetisation by Modi: took away ₹1000 note, brought in ₹2000 one. The ease of doing business for BJP to buy MLAs? #Corruption pic.twitter.com/ICLcnQYBGC
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 17, 2018
11.57 am: The Centre was extending “an open invitation to horse-trading” in Karnataka, the Supreme Court said on Thursday. The top court was responding to the Centre’s argument that anti-defection law, which bans lawmakers from switching parties, does not apply to Karnataka’s newly-elected legislators if they haven’t been sworn in yet. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the Congress against Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state despite lacking the requisite numbers.
AG: Anti-defection law would come into force only after the MLAs are sworn in.
Justice Sikri and Bhushan: does that mean all the suitcase exchange is possible before they are sworn in? That’s impermissible.— Apurva Vishwanath (@apurva_hv) May 16, 2018
11.55 am: Yeddurappa speaks to reporters.
Wait till tomorrow or day after tomorrow: BS Yeddyurappa on floor test #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/4Ro1001W1T
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
11.50 am: RSS is making way into all institutions in the country. This happens in Pakistan or in a dictatorship: Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Chhattisgarh
11.44 am: Pratapgouda Patil, Congress MLA-elect from Maski constituency, has reportedly deserted the Congress and joined hands with the BJP, The News Minute has reported, quoting sources. Patil was reportedly not among the MLAs shepherded to Eagleton resort by the Congress on Wednesday night. He reportedly boarded a chartered jet from the city’s HAL airport, The News Minute reported.
11.42 am: “The BJP-RSS wants to capture all the constitutional institutions in the country. They want to suppress the voices of women and poor,” Congress president Rahul Gandhi said.
11.40 am: Shiv Sena has opposed the Governor’s move.
BS Yeddyurappa has taken the oath but it’s difficult to prove majority. Governor should have called those who had maximum numbers. When this happens people say, loktantra ki hatya ho gayi, lekin jab desh mein loktantra bacha hi nahi hai toh hatya kiski hogi:Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/Ja2tTABDBM
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018
11.35 am: Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha tweeted:
What is happening in Karnataka today is a rehearsal for what will happen after the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi.
— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) May 17, 2018
11. 32 am: Two independent MLAs who were reported to have joined BJP have joined Congress’s protest against the governor’s decision to invite BJP to form government, claims APB.
BREAKING: Two independent MLAs claiming to join @BJP4India, join @INCIndia protest, WATCH LIVE https://t.co/2fxIk6EKnP
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) May 17, 2018