The Supreme Court, on Friday, 18 May, ordered that a floor test be conducted in the Karnataka Assembly at 4pm on Saturday, 19 May, in response to a petition by the Congress-JD(S) combine challenging the Karnataka governor’s decision to call on the BJP to form the government in the state, after the saffron party failed to reach the required 112-seat halfway mark to form the government.
Despite repeated contentions for more time before the floor test by BJP counsel Mukul Rohatgi, the top court ordered the floor test to be held the next day.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi called the order a vindication of the Congress’ charge that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had acted unconstitutionally.
Today’s Supreme Court order, vindicates our stand that Governor Vala acted unconstitutionally. The BJP’s bluff that it will form the Govt, even without the numbers, has been called out by the court. Stopped legally, they will now try money and muscle to steal the mandate.Rahul Gandhi, Congress president
Confident We’ll Win Floor Test, Says BJP
Interim Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa maintained that the BJP had zero doubts about winning the majority in the Karnataka Assembly floor test, adding that the BJP would meet with the chief secretary to call the session.
We will discuss with the chief secretary and call for the Assembly Session tomorrow. We are 100 percent confident that we will prove full majority.BS Yeddyurappa, chief minister, Karnataka
Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar stated, in no uncertain terms, that the party would prove the majority on the floor of the House.
Karnataka BJP MLA Shobha Karandlaje also parroted the newly sworn-in chief minister’s confidence, stating that they welcomed the floor test.
On a side note, the floor test was ordered to be held on 19 May, despite repeated pleas by BJP counsel Mukul Rohatgi for more time.
BJP Karnataka unit tweeted repeatedly, stating that they were confident of a majority.
And again.
The BJP’s Twitter handle had a message for “those doubting the strength of our mandate,” which was simply, “Wait and watch.”
BJP’s Attempt to Throttle Democracy Suppressed, BJP’s Bluff Called Out: Congress
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the top court’s order, calling the governor’s decision to call the BJP to form the government “unconstitutional.”
Mr Yeddyurappa, who has 104 MLAs including himself, in the letter requested for seven days. He had no other names. Yet, the governor invited him. It was unconstitutional. The governor even gave him 15 days time.Siddaramaiah, former chief minister
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan also lauded the apex court’s order, adding that it would help restore the moral authority of the Supreme Court.
The Karnataka Congress said they were sure of a comfortable majority, and that they would prove the same in the floor test on 19 May.
(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit send)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)