HUNG HOUSE TO GOVERNOR HOUSE
BJP falls agonisingly short of majority mark; Congress and JD(S) join hands to muster numbers; both sides stake claim to form government in state
BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala will have to decide whom he invites to form the next government in the state after the elections resulted in a hung house with the Bharatiya Janata Party emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats but short of a majority by 8 seats. The Congress, which won 78 seats, in a surprise move extended unconditional support to the Janata Dal (Secular) which won 38 seats to form and head a government. Both the BJP and the JD(S)-Congress met with Vala.
Elections were held to 222 of the 224 assembly seats in the state. A party or coalition needs the support of 112 members to have a simple majority in the house.
Vala is yet to decide on who to invite to form the government and is expected to wait for the list of winners from the Election Commission, and discuss the issue with constitutional and legal experts. There is no law on this, but there are precedents and conventions of both the single largest party and a post-poll alliance with the numbers being invited to form the government.
The Congress seemed visibly relieved that it had moved fast to strike a partnership with the JD(S) and stake claim to form the government and followed up with a press conference in New Delhi to argue why the combine should be invited to form the government.
It also didn’t miss the opportunity to point out that this is exactly what the BJP has done in Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya, where the party was part of a post-poll alliance invited ahead of the single largest party to form the government.
When asked what they would do in case the governor does not invite them, Randeep Surjewala, Congress’s chief of communication department, said, “We will explore all options,” hinting at moving court.
Speaking at party HQ in Delhi, BJP president Amit Shah said the mandate was for a Congress-free state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the win unprecedented.
A big thank you to all those who voted for the Congress in these elections. We appreciate your support and will fight for you. Thank you also to our workers and leaders for their dedication & untiring hard work in support of the party. RAHUL GANDHI, CONGRESS PRESIDENT
The Congress is trying to subvert the popular mandate and come back to power through the back door. People of Karnataka will never accept this. BS YEDDYURAPPA, CM CANDIDATE, BJP
In a democracy we will have to accept people’s verdict, we have accepted it. Our decision is to support JD(S). It is our unanimous decision. SIDDARAMAIAH, CONGRESS LEADER
BJP’s victory in Karnataka is unprecedented because there is a perception that the party belongs to the Hindispeaking parts of the country. Are Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, northeastern states Hindispeaking states? No, BJP represents India and our proud diversity. NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER