Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday reacted to the Supreme Court’s order of conducting the floor test in Karnataka Assembly on Saturday by saying that Constitution has won and democracy has been restored.
In a tweet Surjewala said, “Constitution wins, Democracy restored! #BSYeddyurappa does remain a 1 day CM – Constitution rejects an illegitimate CM as also the unconstitutional decision of Governor of Karnataka”.
Constitution wins, Democracy restored!#BSYeddyurappa does remain a 1 day CM – Constitution rejects an illegitimate CM as also the unconstitutional decision of Governor of Karnataka.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 18, 2018
Meanwhile, Congress leaders and activists will lead protests at state capital and district headquarters across India.
“We stand united to protest against the murder of democracy and the violation of Constitutional principles by the BJP in Karnakata”, said Congress Twitter handle.
We stand united to protest against the murder of democracy and the violation of Constitutional principles by the BJP in Karnakata. Congress leaders and activists will lead protests at state capital and district headquarters across India. #SaveDemocracyDay pic.twitter.com/6sF63lUIbp
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 18, 2018
The three-judge Supreme Court bench on Friday ordered that the floor test should be conducted at 4 pm on Saturday in the Karnataka Assembly.
The top court was hearing the Congress-JD(S) combine petition challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision of inviting the BJP to form the government in Karnataka.
The top court rejected the request of Mukul Rohatgi, the counsel of Yeddyurappa, to give some more time for the floor test. The court also said it will ask the Karnataka DGP to make proper arrangements for the floor test.
The apex court also said that the Yeddyurappa can’t take any policy-related decision in his capacity as CM until the floor test is conducted.
During the hearing, Attorney General KK Venugopal suggested that the floor test be conducted through secret ballot, which was immediately rejected by the Supreme Court.
Talking to media after the verdict came out, senior advocate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the Congress, said that the top court has “also said that member of Anglo-Indian community cannot be nominated”.
Earlier, chief minister BS Yeddyurappa placed before the court the letter he had submitted to the governor in which he had staked claim to form the government in Karnataka.
The top court directed Mukul Rohatgi, the counsel of Yeddyurappa, to give copies of the letter to lawyers representing the Congress-JDS combine.
“I am going to show the letter which was given by BS Yeddyurappa to the Governor which shows BJP has majority MLAs. Let the Congress-JD(S) prove their majority in the floor of the House after this verdict,” said Mukul Rohatgi.
Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka yesterday, told a special bench comprising Justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan that being the single largest party the BJP was the “mandate of people” of the state who have thrown out the Congress adding that the Congress-JD(S) combine is an “unholy” alliance.
Referring to the letter he submitted to the Governor on May 16, Yeddyurappa said that BJP will give “stable government” and has support of others.
Meanwhile, Congress party sought an appointment with President Ramnath Kovind to protest against the swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa and Governor’s Vajubhai Vala’s decision to administer the oath of office “unconstitutional”.