After much drama, B S Yeddyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He was quick to effect several transfers and appointments on his first day in office. In his maiden presser, he said that he was confident of getting the numbers during the floor test.
The Governor's decision to invite Yeddyurappa has triggered reactions in Goa, Manipur and Bihar where single largest parties are seeking to be invited on the ground that they are the single largest party.
Check all the LIVE updates from what promises to be an action packed day.
May 18, 2018, 3:12 PM IST
B S Yeddyurappa would face a crucial trust vote on Saturday. The Supreme Court directed that he take the floor test. The court ordered that the floor test be held amidst tight security.
Yeddyurappa had taken oath on Thursday as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The action now shifts to the Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru. You can bookmark this page to check all the updates and events that took place in the run up to the floor test.
May 18, 2018, 3:01 PM IST
Ahead of the tomorrow's floor test in Karnataka Assembly, all recently elected BJP MLAs to meet at party office in Bengaluru, in the evening today.
May 18, 2018, 2:50 PM IST
BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra says, "Congress' double standard over judiciary is exposed. Those who tried to impeach CJI are now rejoicing."
May 18, 2018, 2:48 PM IST
Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde welcomes Supreme Court verdict, says the verdict will help prevent horse trading.
May 18, 2018, 2:38 PM IST
According to reports, former CM Siddaramaiah leaves for Hyderabad. He will escort Congress-JD(S) MLAs from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.
May 18, 2018, 2:08 PM IST
According to reports, Congress-JD(S) leaders hold meeting at Taj Krishan hotel in Hyderabad. DK Shivakumar convenes the crucial meeting. Congress-JD(S) MLAs likely to fly down to Bengaluru this evening.
May 18, 2018, 2:03 PM IST
JD(S) leader GT Devegowda, says, "Rs. 100 crore or Rs. 200 crore, our MLAs are with us. None of our members are going away. Today, evening or tomorrow early morning, we all are leaving for Bengaluru."
May 18, 2018, 1:56 PM IST
BJP leaders have gathered at Taj Westend Hotel in Bengaluru to discuss the strategy for tomorrow's floor test.
May 18, 2018, 1:53 PM IST
"The
role that the Governor played was very unfortunate," says
Congress' RV Deshpande.
May 18, 2018, 1:49 PM IST
"I have not received any intimation from the Governor. Generally, the senior most member is appointed as Protem speaker, " says Senior Congress leader RV Deshpande
May 18, 2018, 1:17 PM IST
Governor is listening to Shah & Modi instead of following the Constitution. What the Governor did was a murder of democracy. Yeddyurappa had asked for seven days but Governor gave him 15 days to prove majority! It shows clear collusion with BJP: Siddaramaiah
May 18, 2018, 1:17 PM IST
Former CM siddaramaiah, says, "The judgement of the SC is historic. The Governor's role in the Constitution is very important and he must be unbiased. But in Karnataka, the Governor has taken decisions to favor the BJP".
May 18, 2018, 1:10 PM IST
Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, says, "We gave the list of all Congress, JD(S) and Independent MLAs to the Governor. But unfortunately, the Governor invited the BJP to form Government. No Governor in history of independent India has given anyone 15 days to prove majority."
May 18, 2018, 1:00 PM IST
"As per the directions of Supreme Court, we are expected to prove our majority tomorrow. We are sending our file to Karnataka governor to call an assembly session at 11 am tomorrow. We are going to prove majority, " says BS Yeddyurappa, CM of Karnataka.
May 18, 2018, 12:59 PM IST
"On behalf of the Congress Party, I would like to thank the Honorable judges of the Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law. Some Governors, appointed by BJP, have not been taking decisions according to the Constitution": Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad
May 18, 2018, 12:51 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi's reaction after SC order on floor test
Today’s Supreme Court order, vindicates our stand that Governor Vala acted unconstitutionally.
The BJP’s bluff that it will form the Govt., even without the numbers, has been called out by the court.
Stopped legally, they will now try money & muscle, to steal the mandate.
Governor calls for emergency session tomorrow. He is meeting with legal experts at the Raj Bhavan now.
May 18, 2018, 12:48 PM IST
BJP says that it has the support of 120 MLAs.
May 18, 2018, 12:48 PM IST
The new MLAs will take oath tomorrow. The oath would be administered by the pro-tem speaker.
May 18, 2018, 12:17 PM IST
CM BS Yeddyurappa says, "Will discuss with Chief secretary and call for assembly session tomorrow. We are 100% confident that we will prove full majority."
May 18, 2018, 12:17 PM IST
"Supreme
Court also said that oath should be administered to all MLAs
before the floor test tomorrow and BS Yeddyurappa cannot take any
policy decisions until tomorrow," Singhvi says.
May 18, 2018, 12:17 PM IST
Congress leaders begin Raj Bhavan Chalo march from KPCC office today. Former CM Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot present in the march.
May 18, 2018, 12:13 PM IST
Supreme
Court has delivered a historic verdict, many important directions
have been given, one of them being that floor test has to be
conducted at 4 pm tomorrow under a protem speaker," Congress's
counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi says.
May 18, 2018, 11:55 AM IST
We welcome the Supreme Court's order. We will prove majority on the floor of the House tomorrow, we are ready for floor test: Shobha Karandlaje, BJP
May 18, 2018, 11:44 AM IST
SC asks DGP to take all measures to keep things under control outside the Assembly to make floor test happen smoothly inside the House.
May 18, 2018, 11:42 AM IST
SC bars Yeddyurappa from making policy decisions until floor test is over.
May 18, 2018, 11:40 AM IST
Sibal seeks there should be division of benches. Pro-tem speaker will decide all issues related to floor test in accordance with law says SC.
May 18, 2018, 11:38 AM IST
We cannot give more time says Supreme Court. Let the floor test be conducted tomorrow itself at 4 pm says court.
May 18, 2018, 11:36 AM IST
Supreme Court has started dictating its order
May 18, 2018, 11:32 AM IST
Mukul Rohatgi arguing for the BJP says that the floor test should be held on Monday. One day is not fair, he says. The Congress-JD(S) MLAs are locked up. Give them also time to come and vote he says.
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May 15, 2018, 5:37 am IST
Counting of votes for 222 constituencies will be held today.
May 15, 2018, 5:38 am IST
Yeddyurappa has said that he would take charge as the CM on May 17. He said that his analysis of the state elections has never gone wrong.
May 15, 2018, 5:42 am IST
Just a day before counting, Siddaramaiah threw a surprise by saying that he would back a Dalit candidate for the post of CM if the Congress came to power. His rider was that the high command should take a final call.
May 15, 2018, 5:42 am IST
The three major players are the Congress, BJP and JD(S). Exit polls have shown that Karnataka may throw up a hung house. In such a case, the JD(S) will play kingmaker.
May 15, 2018, 5:45 am IST
First trends will be available by 10 am.
May 15, 2018, 5:45 am IST
Counting of votes to begin at 8 am.
May 15, 2018, 6:07 am IST
The two key constituencies to watch out for are Chamundeshwari and Badami. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is contesting both these seats. In Chamundeshwari he is up against G T Deve Gowda of the JD(S) while in Badami he is taking on B Sriramulu of the BJP. He faces a stiff fight in both the constituencies.
May 15, 2018, 6:15 am IST
A day after voting on May 12, H D Kumaraswamy left for Singapore with his son, Nikhil. Although the JD(S) leader said that it was for a routine medical check-up, speculation was rife that discussions were on for an alliance in the event of Karnataka throwing up a hung house.
May 15, 2018, 6:16 am IST
Karnataka is divided into six regions which have differing voting patterns. The regions to watch out for are the Bangalore, Old Mysore, Bombay Karnataka, Central Karnataka, Coastal and the Hyderabad-Karnataka regions.
May 15, 2018, 6:18 am IST
Security deployed outside a counting center in Kalaburagi ahead of counting of votes for assembly elections
May 15, 2018, 6:29 am IST
The Congress has rushed its senior leaders to Karnataka to ensure that it can form the government in case of a hung house. The Congress learnt bitter lessons from experiences in Meghalaya and Goa when it was unable to form the government despite being the single largest party.
May 15, 2018, 6:35 am IST
In the 2013 Karnataka elections, the BJP fought under the leadership of Jagadish Shettar while the Congess campaign was headed by Siddaramaiah. Congress got clear majority by winning over 120 seats and BJP failed to touch even 50 seats mark. The BJP's dismal show in 2013 was attributed to BS Yeddyurappa severing ties with the saffron party just before the elections. After parting ways, the Lingayat strongman contested the polls under a new party - KJP. After elections, BSY and BJP patched up and KJP was merged into the BJP. So this time, with BSY at helm, it needs to seen how bjp performs. All in all it looks like a neck to neck battle between the the two national parties.
May 15, 2018, 6:36 am IST
There are 283 counting halls and 38 counting centers across the state for counting of votes for 222 assembly seats.
May 15, 2018, 7:09 am IST
Security at an all time high as counting of votes set to begin at 8 am
We have deployed Central Armed Police Forces(CAPF) in strong rooms, adequate security personnel presence will be there at all counting centres to ensure law and order is maintained: OP Rawat,Chief Election Commissioner
May 15, 2018, 7:27 am IST
BJP's B.Sriramalu prays ahead of counting of votes. He is contesting against CM Siddaramaiah from Badami constituency
May 15, 2018, 7:29 am IST
50,000 police personnel deployed across 38 counting centres in state,11,000 in Bengaluru alone. 1 Rapid Action Force (RAF) company and 20 Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) companies also deployed in Bengaluru.
May 15, 2018, 7:47 am IST
K'taka election result falls on Amavasya day today considered to be inauspicious in the state. To ward off evil spirits, JD(S) chief Deve Gowda performed an Amavasya Puja
May 15, 2018, 7:48 am IST
GT Deve Gowda performs special puja at Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru ahead of the results.
May 15, 2018, 7:49 am IST
JDS's HD Kumaraswamy offers prayers at Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math in Nagamangala ahead of counting of votes. Kumaraswamy is contesting from Ramanagara and Channapatna constituencies.
May 15, 2018, 7:50 am IST
Visuals from the strong room(where EVMs are kept) at a counting center (Maharani College) in Bengaluru, counting of votes for Karnataka Assembly Elections to begin shortly.
May 15, 2018, 7:52 am IST
There are 56 red alert constituencies according to Association for Democratic Reforms. Red alert constituencies are the seats which have three or more candidates with declared criminal cases.
May 15, 2018, 7:53 am IST
'Havan' being performed by Congress workers outside AICC office in Delhi, ahead of counting of votes for Karnataka Elections 2018
May 15, 2018, 7:58 am IST
Counting of postal ballots begins in Mangaluru
May 15, 2018, 7:59 am IST
Strong rooms opened across counting centres. Counting to begin at 8 am.
May 15, 2018, 8:03 am IST
Postal ballots being counted first.
May 15, 2018, 8:03 am IST
On possibility of post poll alliance with JDS, Dr. Yathindra, says, "Senior party leaders will decide on this, but we are confident and hope to form Government on our own." Dr. Yathindra is the Congress candidate from Varuna and son of CM Siddaramaiah.
May 15, 2018, 8:04 am IST
G Karunakara Reddy leads in the Harapanahalli constituency
May 15, 2018, 8:04 am IST
Currently JD(S) is leading in two while Congress and BJP in 1 each.
May 15, 2018, 8:05 am IST
Currently JD(S) is leading in two while Congress and BJP in 1 each.