K’taka bypolls: Cong leading in all 3 segments, Kumaraswamy’s son trails by 18,029 votes
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which was leading in all three Assembly segments early on has suffered a setback.
Hours after BS Yeddyurappa resigned as the chief minister without facing the trust vote, Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy went to the Raj Bhavan and staked claim to form the government with the support of the Congress.
Later, Kumaraswamy said Governor Vajubhai Vala has invited him to form the government. He said he will have to prove majority in 15 days.
As per reports, 58-year-old Haradanahalli Devegowda Kumaraswamy will be sworn in on Wednesday. This will be Kumaraswamy’s second stint as chief minister. The JDS with 38 seats will form the government with the support of Congress that has 78 MLAs.
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However, there was no word on the pact with the Congress on ministerial berths and whether or not there will a deputy CM.
As per reports a number of leaders of opposition parties, including Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Mayawati (BSP) and Sharad Yadav (NCP), have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony.
The action-packed day started with the Supreme court hearing the JDS petition against appointment of BG Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker. In response to doubts raised over the fairness of the no-trust motion, the apex court ordered live streaming of the proceedings in the House to ensure transparency.
As the oath-taking ceremony was on in the House, the Congress released two more audio clips, claiming that BS Yeddyurappa tried to lure one of its MLA by offering him ministerial berth.
The two ‘missing’ Congress MLAs also turned up for the trust vote. Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa made an emotional speech and declared his decision to resign.
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