Karnataka’s Bhartiya Janata Party Chief Minister-in-waiting, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Monday staked his claim to forming the government after roping in five Independents, thereby raising his strength in the 224-member Assembly from 110 to 115, two more than a simple majority. “Apart from submitting the list of the 110 BJP members, five Independents, who have given letters of support, were physically present before the governor when I staked my claim,” Mr Yeddyurappa told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.
He was accompanied by BJP general secretaries, Mr Arun Jaitley and Mr Ananth Kumar, state president, Mr D.V. Sadananda Gowda, and other leaders at the meeting with the Governor, Mr Rameshwar Thakur. The five Independents MLAs backing the BJP are Mr Gulahatti Shekar, Mr Shivaraj Tangadagi, Mr Venkataramanappa, Mr Narendra Swamy and Mr D. Sudhakar.
Mr Jaitley said the BJP had appealed to the governor to set in motion the constitutional process to form a popular government by requesting the Centre to lift President’s rule. With all five Independents present at Raj Bhavan, the Congress’ plans to prevent the BJP from forming the government have gone awry. The PCC president, Mr Mallikarjuna Kharge was clear that his party was not making any attempt to forming the government, but party leaders were in touch with Independents who wanted to return to the party.
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