Governor invites Yeddyurappa, likely to take oath on Monday

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) Senior BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa today said he had been invited to form the government in Karnataka by Governor Rameshwar Thakur and indicated that he would take the oath of office on Monday.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who was deputy chief minister and finance minister in the JD(S)-BJP coalition government headed by Mr H D Kumaraswamy, said he received a call from the Governor when he was at the Vaishno Devi shrine today.

Talking to UNI, he said the Governor conveyed to him the union cabinet's decision to revoke President's rule and revive the assembly in Karnataka and invited him to form a BJP-led coalition government in the state.

Mr Yeddyurappa said the Governor also asked him about when he was likely to form the government. ''I told him that I will convey the date after meeting BJP senior leaders and coalition partner leaders,'' he said.

The former Karnataka deputy chief minister, who arrived here his evening and drove down to meet BJP president Rajnath Singh, said he would meet senior BJP leaders including Mr L K Advani before leaving for Bangalore tonight.

He informed that he would be meeting the Governor tomorrow.

Mr Yeddyurappa thanked the people of Karnataka and legislators who stood by him and supported him and assured that he would provide a stable government in the state.

Mr Singh, expressing happiness over the development, said he was confident that the BJP-led coalition would offer a stable government ''in the service of the people''.

He said Mr Yeddyurappa had performed well as deputy chief minister and Finance Minister. ''And now with him at the helm, the BJP is expecting him to be not only an able administrator but also a servant of the people.'' UNI MCN/KAS RR RAI1900