BJP stakes claim to form govt in K'taka

Bangalore, May 26 (UNI) Staking its claim to form the first ever government down the Vindhyas, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today mustered the support of five independent legislators to gain a simple majority of 115 in the 224-seat Karnataka assembly.

The five legislators were tonight paraded before Governor Rameshwar Thakur and the party requested him to write to the Centre to complete the formalities of lifting the President's rule and pave the way for the BJP to form its government in Karnataka.

''The five legislators have extended an unconditional support to the BJP and Legislature Party Leader B S Yeddyurappa.

''Their letter to this effect was handed over to the Governor and they were also present when we met Mr Thakur,'' Party general Secretary and In-charge of Karnataka Elections Arun Jaitley told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.

Earlier, Mr Yeddyurappa was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP Legislature Party setting in motion the process for the formation of the BJP Government.

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