Latest Update : 04:05PM
BS Yeddyurappa has decided to step down as Karnataka CM. In an emotional speech, he declared his decision to step down after BJP could not gather the support of enough MLAs in Karnataka. Yeddyurappa has left for Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation after just two days of government.
With this, there are all possibilities that HD Kumaraswamy will be sworn in as the next chief minister of Karnataka. The governor will soon invite the coalition of JDS and Congress to form the government in Karnataka.
Rahul Gandhi has announced to address media at 4:30 PM from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
—————
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s future in office will be determined today after newly-elected MLAs will be made to undergo a trust vote mandated by the Supreme Court in the state assembly today.
Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the state’s Chief Minister by Governor Vajubhai Vala on Thursday, has claimed that his party will be able to gather the required number of votes from MLAs in order to cross the majority mark. He appealed to the people of Karnataka to support him today and said his party will emerge victorious after the trust vote has taken place.
BJP has 104 elected MLAs to its name, which is a few seats below the majority mark but is enough to make them the single largest party. It is on this ground that Governor Vala invited Yeddyurappa to form the government and granted him fifteen days to prove majority.
This decision of the Governor drew flak because by this time JD(S)’s Kumaraswamy had comfortably crossed the majority mark after Congress extended support to him. Congress and JD(S) informed the Governor about their post-poll alliance possessing the required numbers and even paraded their MLAs at the Raj Bhawan, but Yeddyurappa had already been sworn in by then.
Yeddyurappa’s appointment had been challenged by the Congress party in the Supreme Court the night before he took oath. Although the apex court refused to interfere with his swearing in, it reduced the time of fifteen days granted to him by the Governor and ordered that the vote should be held today at 4 PM.
If Yeddyurappa fails to muster enough support from other MLAs, he will have to step down immediately and then the Congress-JD(S) alliance will form the government with Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister.