Ending intense speculation, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Wednesday night invited BJP legislative party leader BS Yeddyurappa to form the next Government in Karnataka.
A late night communiqué from the Raj Bhavan confirmed that the Governor preferred the claim of Yedduyrappa as leader of the singles largest party over the JD(S)-Congress post-poll coalition. The BJP has announced Yeddyurappa will take oath on Thursday at Raj Bhavan for the third time as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He has been given 15 days time to prove his majority in the Assembly.
The Communiqué said, “I am in receipt of your letter dated May 16, 2018 informing that you have been elected as the leader of BJP legislative party of Karnataka. I invite you to form the Government and be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. I may also direct you that you would seek a vote of confidence on the floor of the House showing you that you command the confidence of the House. The process shall complete within 15 days from the date of assumption of your office of the Chief Minister of Karnataka.”
The fractured mandate in Karnataka polls forced political parties to knock on the door of Governor Vala. The BJP with 104 seats, and the Congress-JD(S) combine, a post-poll alliance, with 117 seats, had staked claim to form a Government in Karnataka. Both the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) combine under the leadership of Yeddyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy respectively met the Governor twice.
Raj Bhavan witnessed high voltage political activities as leaders of the BJP and the Congress-JDS tried to impress upon Vala to invite them for Government formation.
The Governor did not allow the JD(S)-Congress combine to parade their MlAs before him. Bus loads of MlAs who had gathered before the Raj Bhavan had to go disappointed as they were not allowed to enter the Raj Bhavan. The Governor allowed four senior leaders from both the parties to call on him.
At the end of the day, the political drama shifted to resort politics with the Congress and the JD(S) leaders herding their MlAs to an opulent resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Alleging that the BJP was trying to “buy” his party MlAs, JD(S) chief Kumaraswamy said the BJP has offered Rs 100 crore to his MlAs too switch side.
“JD(S) MlAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming fromIJ They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officialsIJ” Kumaraswamy said.
Earlier in the day, the BJP legislatures unanimously elected BS Yeddyurappa as the leader of the legislative party. Soon after, JD(S) elected Kumaraswamy as the leader of JD(S) legislative party. The Congress legislative party unanimously supported Kumaraswamy as the leader of the combine to stake claim.
After calling on the Governor in the morning, Yeddyurappa told the media that he is confident of being invited to form a Government and would be sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka on Thursday.
After his elections as the JD(S) legislative party leader, Kumaraswamy said the BJP had revived “Operation lotus” to poach on their MlAs.
He justified his post-poll alliance with the Congress and also repented for going with BJP in 2004 and 2005.
“There’s a black spot on my father’s career because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 and 2005. So God has given me opportunity to remove this black spot.
So I am going with Congress,” he said.He said no single party has got the mandate, and that for the sake of progress of Karnataka he has formed a secular alliance with the Congress.
“With BJP’s 104 is not a clear mandate and the party has no moral right to preach”, he added.
He warned BJP against any attempt to poach his MlAs and said, “ Forget ‘Operation Kamala’ being successful, there are people who are ready to leave BJP and come with us. If you try to poach one from ours, we’ll do the same and take double from you.”
BJP was quick to hit back at Kumaraswamy. Karnataka BJP in charge and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Rs 100 crore figure is not only imaginary but it is what Congress-JDS do politics through. We are going by rules, we have submitted our claim to the Governor, are confident of forming the Government”.
Operation Kamala (lotus) refers to the 2008 Assembly polls in Karnataka, when the BJP emerged as the single largest party but could not cross the halfway mark. The BJP allegedly engineered the defection of 4 JD(S) and 3 Congress MlAs and successfully staked claim to form Government in the State. Those who defected from their parties were allegedly promised huge rewards, re-elections and important posts in Government bodies.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and blamed him for horse trading. He said “BJP can’t form the Government in Karnataka as they don’t have the numbers. BJP has approached all our MlAs to offer money and power. Modiji is supporting this move. He said yesterday BJP will form govt at any cost,” Siddaramaiah said.