Karnataka government formation: Events as they unfolded on May 16, 2018

With 104 MLAs, the BJP is the single largest party, while the JD(S)-Congress coalition, formed after the election results were declared, has 116 legislators. It has also claimed support of an independent MLA.

Pic courtesy: ANI

Bengaluru: Governor Vajubhai Vala on Wednesday invited BJP legislature party leader BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in Karnataka. "I invite you (Yeddyurappa) to form the government and be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka," a Raj Bhavan communique said. The Governor also asked 75-year-old BJP leader to seek a vote of confidence within 15 days of assuming office as the CM.

Toiling hard to control the levers of power in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy, the leader of the newly formed JD(S)-Congress alliance had earlier met Vala and staked claim to form the government.

With 104 MLAs in the 224-member Assembly, the BJP is the single largest party, while the JD(S)-Congress coalition, formed after the election results were declared, has 116 legislators. It has also claimed support of an independent MLA.

With there being precedents of both, Governors inviting either the leader of the single largest party or that of a post-poll coalition to form the government, Vala, a former RSS-BJP veteran from Gujarat, opted for the former.

Here are the updates:

16 May 2018

23:40 IST

Since swearing in now announced for 9 am on 17/5/18, in a 9 pm invite by governor today to BSY to form Govt, urgency to seek listing in sc tonite is self validating. If sc registry accepts petrs request on basis of petn settled by me and filed tonite, I wl appear and argue tonite

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018

23:37 IST

JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy arrives at Eagleton Resort in #Bengaluru where Congress and JD(S) MLAs are staying #KarnatakaElections pic.twitter.com/G0EZJFuwUZ

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018