Amit Shah vs Rahul Gandhi on Twitter As Karnataka Drama Unfolds

Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP’s “irrational insistence” to form the government in Karnataka.

No time was lost in BS Yeddyurappa taking oath as the new chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday, 17 May morning. What had preceded was an unprecedented action-packed hearing in the Supreme Court of the Congress’ plea challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form government.

No sooner than the new chief minister was sworn in, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP, on Twitter, over its “irrational insistence” to form government in Karnataka, despite "not having the numbers”.

The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution.

This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 17, 2018

It was the Congress President’s first public comment over the dramatic developments that took place in the state after the Assembly election threw up a hung verdict.

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Amit Shah wasted no time in hitting back at Gandhi. The BJP national president tweeted his reply, reminding him of the Congress’ “glorious history”.

President of the Congress obviously doesn’t remember the glorious history of his party.

The legacy of Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s Party is the horrific Emergency, blatant misuse of Article 356, subverting the courts, media and civil society.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 17, 2018

Who has the people’s mandate in Karnataka?

The BJP, which has won 104 seats.

Or

Congress which dropped to 78 seats, whose own CM and Ministers lost by big margins.
JD(S) who won only 37 seats and lost their deposits on several others.

People are wise to realise.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 17, 2018

The ‘Murder of Democracy’ happens the minute a desperate Congress made an ‘opportunist’ offer to the JD(S), not for Karnataka’s welfare but for their petty political gains. Shameful!

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 17, 2018

Click here for all the live updates on Karnataka.

Late-Night Action in Supreme Court

In a late-night hearing, the apex court made it clear that the swearing-in and the government formation in the state would be subject to the final outcome of the case before it.

Yeddyurappa has 15 days to prove his majority in the Assembly.

The BJP has 104 MLAs in the House, eight short of the magic figure of 112. On the other hand, the Congress and the JD(S), which have already announced post-poll tie-up, have won 78 and 37 seats respectively.

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Midnight Drama: Halt BSY Swearing-in, Demands Cong-JD(S) Petition

Launching a fusillade against Governor Vala after he invited the BJP to form the government in the state, the Congress had on Wednesday, 16 May, dubbed him a "stooge" of the NDA major and accused him of "encountering" Constitution at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

(With PTI inputs)

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