Midnight Drama: Halt BSY Swearing-in, Demands Cong-JD(S) Petition

The Karnataka governor has invited BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi at the Supreme Court.

(Photo courtesy: Twitter @arvindgunasekar )

Hours before the swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa is scheduled, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the petition filed by the Congress- JD(S) challenging Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala’s invitation to BJP to form the government in the state.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing the Congress-JD(S) in the matter, while Assistant Attorney General Tushar Mehta is representing the Union of India. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi will be appearing for B.S Yeddyurappa and BJP.

The hearing is currently underway in Court No.6 and is being heard by a three-judge bench, comprising Justice AK Sikri, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Bobde.

Catch all the live updates here.

In the petition, the Congress-JD(S) demanded that the top court restrain the appointment of BS Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister.

The Quint, which has exclusive access to the petition filed by the Congress and JD (S) before the Supreme Court on Wednesday midnight has learnt that the following are the prayers of the petition:

• Restrain the Hon’ble Governor from selecting/inviting/appointing Shri B.S. Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and administering him the oath of office till the Writ Petition is finally disposed
• Direct that the impugned order dated 16.05.2018 not to be given effect to or acted upon.
• Pass ad interim ex-parte orders in relation to the two points mentioned above and after notice confirm the same till the final disposal of the writ petition.

Sources had earlier told The Quint that the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) combine was moving a joint petition.

Yeddyurappa, who will be taking oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Thursday, 17 May at 9 am, has been given 15 days to prove the majority by the governor. The governor's invitation came only hours after the JD(S)-Congress alliance met Vala, asserting their majority.

Follow all the live updates on the Karnataka elections drama here.

On 15 May, Karnataka threw up a hung verdict, with the BJP falling short of the majority mark of 112 seats and the Congress cobbling together an alliance with the JD(S). Both the groups met the governor on Tuesday and staked claim to form the government.

In the bitterly fought election, the BJP got 104 seats, the Congress 78 and the JD(S)+ 38. Notably, the Congress garnered a vote share 1.8 percent higher than the BJP.

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