AMN
In a major verdict, the Supreme Court today ordered floor test in Karnataka Assembly at 4 PM tomorrow (Saturday).
A three-judge bench headed by Justice AK Sikri passed the order after hearing a Congress-JD(S) combine petition against the decision of Governor Vajubhai Vala to invite BS Yeddyurappa of BJP to form the government.
Appearing on behalf of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi placed letters he had written to the governor staking claim to form govt in Karnataka.
He submitted before the court that being the single largest party the BJP was the mandate of people of the state who have thrown out the Congress. He also told to the bench that there was no pre-poll alliance between the Congress and JDS and they have formed an unholy alliance after the elections.
Th e order reduces the the 15-day window given by the governor to newly-chosen BJP chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to prove majority.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Yeddyurappa, opposed the court’s proposed day and asked it to set a more reasonable date for the floor test. The SC cited past precedents fixing such time period for floor test.
Soon after proceedings began at 10.30am, Rohatgi handed over two letters stating that Yeddyurappa has been elected as leader of BJP, the largest party in the Karantaka assembly, and that he has the support of necessary number of MLAs.
Rohatgi added that there was no need for Yeddyurappa to give names of all MLAs to the governor as he is ready to prove majority on the floor of the House. He revealed that BJP would receive support from legislators belonging to Congress and JDS a and the letters written by Congress-JD(S) does not show signs of each and every MLA declaring its support to the post-poll alliance.
“I have instruction from several MLAs from other side that they have not given written support to Cong-JDS combine. I don’t want to say anything more at this stage,” Rohatgi said.
In the May 12ht polls, BJP emerged as the single largest party with 104 members, while Congress secured 78, the JD(S) 37 and others three.