While HD Kumaraswamy set to be sworn in as Chief Minister, BJP to observe "Anti People's Mandate Day"
Bengaluru, May 23: After a series of dramatic turnouts in the Karnataka Assembly Elections, the stage has finally set ready for Vidhan Soudha to form its government in Karnataka. The Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) has joined hands agreeing to form a broad power-sharing formula for the grand day of the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Governor Vajubhai Vala will administer the oath of office and oath of secrecy to the Chief Minister Designate. Alongside him, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara will take oath as the Deputy Chief Minister.
On Tuesday, administering and discussing the allotment of portfolios among the minister of Congress and JD(S) it has been decided that 22 out of 34 ministries would be helmed by the Congress and 12 ministries including the Chief Minister would go with the JD(S). Congress’ KR Ramesh Kumar will be the Speaker of Karnataka’s Vidhana Soudha, while the deputy speaker will be appointed from the JD(S). Rest of the ministry and portfolio allocation will be decided after the floor test which is due to be held on May 24.
The ceremony will be attended by leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Chief Ministers of non-BJP states and heads of regional parties. They include Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, N Chandrababu Naidu, Akhilesh Yadav.
BJP Protest:
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which bagged the highest number of seats in Karnataka Elections Results 2018, has announced to observe May 23 as “Anti People’s Mandate Day”. Party functionaries will stage black flag demonstration throughout the state led by state party president BS Yeddyurappa at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Bengaluru’s Ananda Rao Circle against the ‘unholy alliance’.
Background:
The high voltage Karnataka Assembly Elections was seen as the stage set ready for the 2019 general elections. However, the election results demonstrated a fractured mandate as the Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 104 seats emerging as the single largest party. The Congress with 78 seats and JD(S) with 37 seats, along with two independent candidates, formed a post-poll alliance with a total of 117 MLAs.
However, Governor Vajubhai Vala invited Yeddyurappa to form a government on May 16, and gave him 15 days to prove majority, amid huge uproar by the opposition. Unable to garner the required number by the deadline, Yeddyurappa stepped down from the post of the chief minister before the floor test could be conducted, mere two days after he was sworn in.
Inviting Kumaraswamy to swear in as the Chief Minister the stage has been set ready for the grand formation of government in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy had earlier served as the chief minister of the state from February 2006 to October 2007.