Two days after Karnataka election results, BJP’s Yeddyurappa took oath as the new Chief Minister.
The Congress said it will observe "Save Democracy Day" tomorrow with party workers and leaders holding protest marches at all district and state headquarters to protest Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite BS Yeddyurappa to take oath as Chief Minister.
On 16 May, the Congress and JD(S) challenged the swearing in of Yeddyurappa as Karnataka Chief Minister in the Supreme Court, which gave a midnight hearing to their petition, but refused to stay the swearing-in.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi then announced that all party workers will observe 18 May as 'Save Democracy Day', by holding dharnas and protests in every corner of the country to expose the "misdeeds" of PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
The tumult thrown up by the crisis in Karnataka was not the lone case in the history of the Supreme Court burning the midnight oil.
Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who opposed the hearing of the Karnataka crisis at night, said it was not like Memon's case which concerned a life and death situation, to be considered for urgent hearing in the wee hours. He faced opposition from an opposing lawyer who justified the ongoing hearing saying that in this case, it was the Constitution that was being hanged.
Surjewala said that if allowing the single largest party was the law, then the BJP governments in Goa, Manipur and Bihar should resign and Congress should be allowed to form their governments.
"Yeddyurappa will turn out a one-day Chief Minister… His fate as CM is dependent on the court hearing," he said.
Attacking the Congress earlier in the day, Shah in a tweet:
“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!"
The BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the southern state winning 104 seats, but is short of a simple majority.
On the other hand, the Congress and JD(S), which have already announced a post-poll tie-up, have won 78 and 37 seats respectively and claimed before the Governor to have the numbers to form government in the state.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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