BJP fiddling with Constitution to get power in Karnataka: Sachin Pilot

The Congress's Rajasthan unit chief Sachin Pilot today accused the Bharataiya Janata Party (BJP) of "strangulating democracy" in Karnataka and "fiddling with Constitution" to retain power.

In the wake of the high-voltage political development in Karnataka, the opposition party leader said it was evident that the BJP's only priority is to remain in power.

"The BJP has insulted people's mandate in Karnataka. Their only aim seems to be in power. They can even fiddle with the Constitution to be in power," Pilot alleged here during a sit-in protest.

Congress leaders raised anti-BJP slogans and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest the political developments in the southern Indian state.

He said the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in Aseembly elections in Goa, Manipur and Mizoram, but invitation to form government was given to coalitions.

However, despite the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) being the largest coalition in Karnataka, the BJP was invited by Governor Vajubhai Vala to form the government.

"The vote share of the BJP has reduced in all the states where elections were held. It has lost its trust among people and its false promises have been exposed," he said.

BJP legislature party leader B S Yeddyurappa was earlier in the day sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka for a second time, after an overnight high-voltage legal battle in the Supreme Court.

The 75-year-old Lingayat strongman was administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan amid loud cheering by his supporters.

Yeddyurappa was administered the oath alone, hours after the Supreme Court refused to stay his swearing-in. The BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the southern state winning 104 seats, but is short of a simple majority.

The Congress and JD(S) -- which have already announced a post-poll tie-up -- have won 78 and 37 seats, respectively and had claimed before Vala to have numbers to form government in the state. The Governor has given the BJP 15 days' time to prove its majority.

PTI