Karnataka trust vote: HD Kumarawamy will take oath as chief minister on Wedneday.
Janata Dal Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy said he will take oath as the chief minister of Karnataka, hours after the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa resigned from the top post without facing a floor test. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) walked away from a Supreme Court-ordered floor test to prove it had the support of a majority of legislators to govern Karnataka, after an election a week ago threw up no clear winner. The move could now allow an alliance of the main opposition Congress and the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) to form the government in the southern state. Karnataka Chief Minister
BS Yeddyurappa resigned after a long, emotional speech in the assembly. After ending the speech and announcing his resignation, he walked out of the assembly.
Newly elected MLAs had been due to vote in the assembly on the orders of the Supreme Court, which intervened after the opposition had protested against a decision of the Karnataka governor to
invite the BJP to form a government in Karnataka. His resignation would pave the way for an alliance of the JDS-Congress. "Democracy has finally won the battle against the unholy politics of intimidation, corruption and lies," the Congress tweeted. "Congratulations Karnataka!"
Though the BJP won 104 seats in the Karnataka election, it
was eight short of the majority mark of 111 after one of its legislators was picked as the speaker for today. The Congress and the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) of HD Deve Gowda had taken their legislators out of Karnataka to prevent them from
being poached by the BJP. The Supreme Court also rejected the Congress's petition against making KG Bopaiah the pro tem speaker. "Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings," the court had said.
Here are the highlights of the Karnataka government formation:
Danish Ali of the JDS says HD Kumaraswamy will take oath as Chief Minister on Wednesday, May 23 at around 12:30 pm.
JDS leader Danish Ali says HD Kumaraswamy's oath taking ceremony will not take place on Monday as it is the death anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
HD Kumaraswami visited the Adichunchungiri Math today to seek the blessings of Swami Nirmalanand.
Congress leader DK Shivakumar to NDTV:
- We never traveled by flight, but by bus. We moved to Hyderabad, were supposed to move to Kerala.
- Have full faith in leadership. Rahul Gandhi will take decision at the right time.
- Don't want to discuss my position.
- Don't want to comment, everyone knows, JDS knows.
Mr Kumaraswmy says he has invited Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati and Chandrababu Naidu for the oath taking ceremony on Monday.
HD Kumaraswamy says he will take oath as chief minister on Monday.
JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy stakes claim to form government in Karnataka, says swearing in on Monday
HD Kumaraswamy reaches Raj Bhavan.
HD Kumaraswamy to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala at 7:30 pm.
"In the end, India's voice and democratic spirit will always triumph over tyranny. Satyamev Jayate," tweets Rahul Gandhi
"It's a victory of secular democratic forces. The BJP never had the numbers, but the governor invited them to form government. The party was given time for horse-trading. Karnataka showed that the BJP's downslide has started," CPI leader D Raja told news agency PTI.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the BJP's attempts to "subvert democracy" has "miserably failed" in Karnataka. Mr Kejriwal's comment came after BS Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka chief minister before facing a crucial trust vote in the assembly. "BJP's attempts to subvert democracy have miserably failed in Karnataka. BJP's lust for power through foul means stands completely exposed. Will BJP learn any lesson now?" Mr Kejriwal said in a tweet.
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar is addressing the media in Bengaluru.
- Congress and JDS are most opportunistic alliance
- Why did we resign if we did try buying MLAs?
- They ran a fake campaign, they released fake CDs, they made fake charges
"I just spoke with Kumaraswamy Ji and congratulated him. He invited me for the oath taking ceremony on Monday," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
BS Yeddyurappa submits resignation as chief minister of Karnataka to Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Congress and JDS supporters celebrate in Bengaluru after BJP's BS Yeddyurappa resigns as chief minister of Karnataka after a 20-minute-long speech in the assembly on the day of the Supreme Court-ordered floor test.
"What happened, happened because of Amit Shah and the PM's conspiracy. They want to grab every institution in the country by misusing the central and government machinery. They are even putting pressure on governors, not letting them work freely. This has affected the institution of the governor's office. It is not that they will succeed in their conspiracies. They tried to buy lawmakers. Even the Supreme Court dealt sternly with them. It is such a big jolt that they will have to change their 2019 strategy," Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati told reporters.
"What is he (Rahul Gandhi) 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," BJP leader Ananth Kumar said on Rahul Gandhi's statement.
"The basic idea behind RSS is to capture every institution of the country. Everyone is feeling it. The press is feeling it... Even Mr Narendra Modi's MPs are feeling it," Rahul Gandhi said.
"You've seen openly how the PM directly authorised purchasing of MLAs in Karnataka, so the idea that PM spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption, is a blatant lie, he is corruption," Rahul Gandhi said.
"The prime minister is not bigger than the people of India, the prime minister is not bigger than the Supreme Court... I doubt the prime minister would understand that as he has been trained by the RSS throughout his life that no other institution is bigger," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
"Did you notice after the entire exercise in the Vidhana Soudha in Karnataka that the BJP leader and speaker chose to leave the house before the national anthem was played? This is what we fighting for today. You can rubbish any institution; you can disrespect anybody just because you are in power. This is what BJP and RSS do again and again... The idea that the PM says he is fighting corruption is a blatant lie. He is doing everything to subvert the nation," Congress president Rahul Gandhi told reporters after BS Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka chief minister.
"We would like to congratulate the MLAs of Congress, JD(S), independent as well as BSP who resisted all sorts of temptations and arm twisting by the central government. They stood by the party principles and decision taken by the party leadership," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Congress workers celebrate in Uttarakhand's Dehradun after BJP's BS Yeddyurappa stepped down as chief minister of Karnataka.
"Even though PM Modi knew that he did not have majority, he wanted to make sure that they will go out of the way to rule. The events show how much involvement Modi had. We can see that he approved of horse-trading and that Yeddyurappa knew it all," Congress leader Siddaramaiah said.
"We are waiting for invitation from the governor's house," JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy on being asked when he will take oath as Karnataka chief minister, news agency ANI reported.
More reactions on BS Yeddyurappa's resignation:
"The unsavoury drama has ended. The governor in cahoots with the BJP should not have tried to manipulate the outcome. Full marks to the Congress and JDS," Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted.
"'Operation Lotus' fails! BS Yeddyurappa remains 2 day CM as the country predicted, breaking his own record of being 7 days CM. Democracy Wins! Constitution Wins!" Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted.
BS Yeddyurappa had been Karnataka chief minister for a short time. "I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation," Mr Yeddyurappa said in the assembly. "I will not face confidence vote... I am going to resign," he told the assembly after a long emotional speech that touched on many issues, especially farmers' issues.
BJP's BS Yeddyurappa has reached the Raj Bhavan after resigning as chief minister of Karnataka.
Congress and JDS leaders celebrate after BS Yeddyurappa announces he has resigned as chief minister of Karnataka, on the day of the Supreme Court-ordered floor test.
Reactions on BS Yeddyurappa's resignation:
"Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks," Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted.
"Democracy has won in Karnataka. The conspiracy made by the BJP has failed to authorise the anti-constitutional measures," Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted.
"Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
"Right now news has come that BS Yeddyurappa has resigned as Karnataka's CM. Are all of you happy? All those who believe in democracy are happy," Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said.
"As I take off from Auckland, news comes in of BSY's resignation. That so many MLAs proved impervious to the BJP's blandishments is an encouraging sign for Indian democracy. And that the party with the highest percentage of votes will now form the government w/an ally is gr8 news!" Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted.
BS Yeddyurappa has resigned.
"Dear Kumaraswamy, I will fight till my last breadth. I will give my life for the people. Their vote is final," the former chief minister said.
"The election results are now out. Today is the floor test. Think for once, if we had 113, the picture would have been different," BS Yeddyurappa said.
Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar said the BJP will lose the floor test today. "I am sure he (BS Yeddyurappa) will resign before the trust vote," Mr Shivakumar said, news agency ANI reported.
"How many moves will the BJP make before the vote of confidence in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly? How many obstacles will they put? First of all, give us 15 days. Second, Anglo-Indian members. Third, secret ballot. Fourth, plotting a pro tem speaker. Fifth, the search is on," Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted. "Thank God that there is Supreme Court," he said.
"I want to stand for the right things with the love and support of the people and the farmers. I cannot forget the problems that farmers are facing today," BS Yeddyurappa said.
Karnataka Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil, who had been 'missing', take oath in Karnataka's Vidhana Soudha. The floor test will be held shortly.
"The governor called me to form government. It gives me grief that we are here today. We have so many issues, farmers, water problems, farmer suicides. We need to give all these people justice," BS Yeddyurappa said.
"The people of the state voted lesser for Congress and JDS. They did not get a majority. People are now confused. Both parties lost and are still trying to win," BS Yeddyurappa said.
"For the last two years, I have travelled across the state and tried solving problems of the people. I can't forget the love and support I got from the people of this state. They got me 104 seats and made me win," BS Yeddyurappa said.
"Respected members of the house, PM Modi made me the chief ministerial candidate," BJP's BS Yeddyurappa said in the Karnataka assembly. "I have not seen a PM declare a chief ministerial candidate before elections. I have consistently served the state and tried to understand the state and its issues."
Congress's Anand Singh has taken oath in the Karnataka assembly.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in the Karnataka assembly as the floor test is about to begin. The Congress and the JDS have alleged that the BJP has been trying to poach their legislators.
Both the 'missing' Karnataka Congress legislators - Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil -- have come to the Karnataka assembly for the floor test, which will begin in a matter of minutes.
Local channels are showing Congress legislator Anand Singh walking in the assembly building, escorted by Congress leader DK Shivakumar.
"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," BJP legislator Somashekara Reddy told news agency ANI. Mr Reddy is the brother of Janardhana Reddy.
"Now desperate Congress playing dirty tricks to malign BJP through fake CD's.... We have confirmation that Congress hired many mimicry artists for this and stooping to this level for power has become a trademark of Congress," BJP's Shobha Karandlaje tweeted after the Congress released more tapes of BJP leaders allegedly trying to poach Congress MLAs.
The Karnataka assembly will continue with the proceedings for the floor test shortly. It was adjourned for lunch.
"Wait and see. In politics, every decision is wonderful and happy," Karnataka BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said when asked about the floor test, which will be held shortly.
When their names were called out in the assembly for their oath, Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil were believed to have been inside room 406 of Gold Finch hotel.
Union minister Ananth Kumar and BS Yeddyurappa are present in the chief minister's chamber in Karnataka's Vidhana Soudha, news agency ANI reported.
Karnataka Congress legislator Pratap Gowda Patil is seen having lunch at the Vidhana Soudha, Congress's DK Suresh and Dinesh Gundu Rao present with him.
Congress legislator Pratap Gowda Patil is seen leaving from Bengaluru's Goldfinch hotel for the Vidhana Soudha where the Karnataka floor test will be held.
Reports have come that Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is likely to meet the governor shortly before the Karnataka floor test. It is not know why he is going to meet the governor. There is speculation that Mr Yeddyurappa would resign. He is short of a majority and has been accused by the Congress and the JDS of trying to poach their legislators.
"Pratap Gowda Patil has come. He will take oath as an MLA, then he will vote for the Congress. He will not betray the Congress party," Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, news agency ANI reported.
Congress leader DK Shivakumar speaks to reporters in Bengaluru
As the Karnataka floor test proceedings were underway, the Congress in Goa said the BJP has little respect for democracy. "The way BJP MPs Shripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar condemned our action of meeting the governor and submitting the letter, it indicates that the party (BJP) has scant respect for democracy in the country," Goa Congress spokesperson Yatish Naik said in Panaji.
"I am sure he (BS Yeddyurappa) will resign before the trust vote," Congress leader DK Shivakumar said.
Here's a brief explainer of the Karnataka floor test and the possible outcomes:
"PM Narendra Modi never tires of lecturing the nation on corruption. Does he have the moral courage to advice BJP Karnataka and BS Yeddyurappa to stop these attempts to bribe MLAs, and allow the formation of a stable coalition government in the interest of Karnataka?" Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted.
The Karnataka Congress has released two more audio tapes that it said proved that the ruling BJP was trying to bribe its MLAs to raise numbers before Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's floor test this afternoon. The tapes have BJP leaders including Mr Yeddyurappa allegedly trying to persuade Congress legislator BC Patil to switch sides. One of the tapes has the voice of Mr Yeddyurappa, the Congress alleges. The other tape, said the party, has his son Vijayendra.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in the Karnataka assembly for the floor test.
While the Karnataka floor test is underway, the BJP's ally in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena, said the Supreme Court's order to hold the floor test today - from the earlier 15-day time given by the Karnataka governor -- was in the right direction. "The Karnataka power play reached the corridors of the Supreme Court, which virtually nullified the governor's decision. Despite the BJP not having the clear majority, governor Vajubhai Vala hurriedly invited it to form the government and gave it 15 days time to prove majority," the Shiv Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana.
Congress parliamentarian DK Suresh said the party has issued a whip to two of its legislators who are missing from the assembly for the floor test. "We have issued a whip to the two MLAs that they should be present in the house," Mr Suresh said. He said he tried to meet the MLAs, but was not allowed to enter beyond the reception of the Bengaluru hotel by the police.
Karnataka Congress legislator Anand Singh, who had been missing from the trust vote in the assembly, was seen leaving Bengaluru's Goldfinch hotel: news agency ANI reported.
"They (missing Congress MLAs) have not come yet. Their seats are vacant. Their seats are allotted along with us. They will be our neighbours soon. They will be with us," Congress leader DK Shivakumar told NDTV.
Senior Karnataka police officer Neelamani Rao went to Bengaluru's Goldfinch hotel, where the two Congress legislators -- Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil -- are believed to be in a room locked from inside.
Policemen outside Goldfinch hotel in Bengaluru where two Congress legislators are believed to be staying.
Floor test proceedings in the Karnataka assembly have been adjourned till 3:30 pm for lunch.
Here's a brief explainer of the Karnataka floor test and the possible outcomes:
Option 1
Congress-JDS legislators cross vote for BJP
Fallout
BJP crosses majority mark, wins trust vote
Option 2
Congress-JDS lawmakers abstain
Fallout
Majority mark goes down
Option 3
Opposition lawmakers absent
Fallout
Effective strength, majority mark reduces
Option 4
Congress-JDS legislators resign
Fallout
Strength goes down, BJP crosses majority mark
Option 5
BJP disrupts assembly, forces adjournment
Fallout
Trust vote does not take place, BS Yeddyurappa stays chief minister for now
The Director General of Police went to the Goldfinch hotel to check if the Congress lawmakers, Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil, had been held captive or were there of their own free will, people familiar with the matter told NDTV.
"Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the secretariat and homes of legislators' to facilitate smooth conduct of the assembly proceedings for the floor test," Karnataka Director General of Police Nilamani Raju said. Any kind of rally or procession by political parties and their supporters are banned.
The police have gone to a hotel to see whether two Congress MLAs are being held captive. Two Congress legislators and one from the BJP are not in the house, three hours before the Karnataka trust vote.
BJP legislator G Somashekhar Reddy is with the two 'missing' Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda: news agency ANI reported quoting unnamed people.
"The BJP wanted 15 days and then seven days, but the Supreme Court just gave a single day because the Supreme Court knew that the PM won't say
na khareendunga,
na khareedne dunga... We said that we want trust vote and no postponement of the floor test," Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.
"He (BJP's BY Vijayendra) called the wife of a Congress MLA and asked her to request to her husband to vote for Yeddyurappa. He said 'we will give your husband a ministry or Rs 15 crore to your husband'," VS Ugrappa of the Congress said, news agency ANI reported.
The Supreme Court has ordered live telecast of the floor test in the Karnataka assembly. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has to prove his majority. The top court said the live broadcast of the floor test will be the best way to ensure transparency.
"They are trying to hunt our MLAs. Make lots of offers. There is evidence also that they would like to flout all the norms of democracy. But I don't think it will succeed," Congress leader Veerapa Moily told NDTV.
"They are trying to hunt our MLAs. Make lots of offers. There is evidence also that they would like to flout all the norms of democracy. But I don't think it will succeed," Congress leader Veerapa Moily told NDTV.
Janata Dal Secular or JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy at the Karnataka assembly before the trust vote.
"BJP will be exposed to the whole world. They know very well that they are 104, still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here; whenever they come they will surely support us," Congress leader Veerapa Moily told reporters hours before the Karnataka trust vote.
Congress legislator Pratap Gowda was not present in the Karnataka assembly when his name was called out for his oath. People familiar with the matter say the missing lawmakers -- two more of them -- are at a hotel where attempts are on to bring them around. Congress legislator Anand Singh had alleged that he was "kidnapped and threatened with criminal cases".