Karnataka Live Updates: Governor invites Kumaraswamy to form govt

NDA ally Shiv Sena has joined the chorus of voices demanding the resignation of Governor Vajubhai Vala, reports CNN News 18. “The governor acted in a suspicious way and should resign from his office,” said party spokesperson Manisha Kayande.

Scenes of joys among Congress workers were witnessed in Dehradun too.

The Supreme Court's decision of slashing the 15-day window given to BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to prove majority showed that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had favoured the saffron party and he was at fault, the Shiv Sena said today.

It also alleged that since the BJP has "money and muscle power", it may win over some Congress and JD(S) MLAs to prove majority in the southern state. "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 Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"The newly-elected members of the Karnataka Assembly are yet to take oath. But ever before that the governor had nominated an Anglo-Indian member. Although it is the prerogative of the governor, given the political instability and the power play at work, it was an attempt to assure one vote (to BJP)," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. (PTI)

Here’s the transcript of the audio:

BC Patil - hello ... hello... hello ... give him the phone (asking the man who called to hand the phone over)

Yeddyurappa - hello

BC- Anna namaskara, congratulations

BSY- Where are you?

BC Patil - going to Cochin in the bus

BSY- don’t go to kochi, come back. come back we’ll make you a Minister and help you in whatever way you want.

BC Patil - Anna.. okay..you’ve told me now.. if you tell me something about what next..

BSY: I could only tell you when the time was right, which is why I’m doing it now. Now don’t go to kochi, come back

BCP: But we’re in the bus

BSY: don’t go, Make some excuse and come back

BCP: so what will be my position

BSY: You will become a minister

BCP: Anna i have 3 other people with me

BSY: bring them with you, you have faith in me no?

BCP: yes yes

BSY: now come back, don’t go in the bus

BCP: okay Anna okay

BSY: once you go to Cochin, the matter is closed because we won’t be able to catch you.

BCP: Okay okay Anna

BSY: now tell me what you’re going to do

BCP: I’ll Call you back in 5 minutes and tell you

The Congress-JDS application in SC says the "manner in which preparations for the floor test is being carried out seems to suggest that it is being designed to replicate defections orchestrated" by Yeddyurappa in the year 2008 when he was again short of majority. The same is commonly known as "Operation Lotus".

The Congress-JDS application seeks setting aside of the appointment of KG Bopaiah as pro-term speaker and appointment of the senior most member in his place, and that except for administering oath and conducting floor test, the pro-tem Speaker should be restrained from exercising any other power. It also asks for videography of the floor test,

Good morning. Follow all the live updates as BS Yeddyurappa face a floor test in Karnataka at 4 pm today. Before that, the Supreme Court will hear a Congress-JDS challenge to Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint controversial BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as pro tem speaker, overlooking far more senior MLAs. By convention, the seniormost MLA—Congress' RV Deshpande—is appointed pro tem speaker.