Karnataka govt formation: Congress-JD(S) claim support of 118 MLAs, updates

Karnataka govt formation - Union minister Prakash Javadekar today rubbished JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's charge that the BJP was offering Rs 1 billion to wean away his party MLAs in its bid to form a government in Karnataka, saying it is "imaginary". "Rs 100 crore, Rs 200 crore figures are imaginary. The BJP is not doing anything. This is the kind of politics the JD(S) and Congress play," he said. The union minister also accused the Congress and JD(S) of having come together by "unholy means."

Javadekar, who is in the state as the BJP makes an aggressive bid to come to the power after the poll results threw up a hung assembly, said his party was not in the practice of horsetrading and exuded confidence it will form the next government. "We are not in the habit of horsetrading of any kind and therefore we are going by the rule book, and we are forming the government. "That is our confidence. We have already met the Governor (Vajubhai Vala) and submitted our plea and we are very sure to form the government, a very stable government," he added.

The Karnataka Assembly election results threw up an unexpected suspense today, as a simple majority tantalisingly eluded BJP and the Congress quickly proclaimed support to third-placed JD(S) to keep the saffron party out of power. As the results of the poll in the state have left Karnataka Assembly in hung, the final decision will be taken by Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala.

Karnataka govt formation: JD(S) alleges BJP offering MLAs Rs 1 bn; updates

A day after the Karnataka Assembly election results threw up a fractured mandate, the Janata Dal (Secular) has alleged that BJP is offering its MLAs Rs 1 billion each to abstain from voting during the floor test so that the BJP could prove a majority in the House and form the next government.

"JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income-tax officials?" said H D Kumaraswamy, who was chosen as the leader of the JD(S) at a meeting of the party’s MLAs, according to ANI.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP legislators elected B S Yeddyurappa as the legislative party leader on Wednesday, party spokesman S Shantharam said while addressing media persons.

"The party has chosen me. I have given the letter to the Governor and he would call me. That is what I am hoping. He told me that he will take an appropriate decision. I'll inform you after I receive the letter from the Governor," said Yeddyurappa after meeting the Governor, ANI reported.

Karnataka election: Congress, BJP in talks with JD(S); top 10 developments

With just one more day to go before the Karnataka Assembly election 2018 results, BJP president Amit Shah has asserted that his party will form the next government in the state, while the Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(s), has claimed that neither incumbent chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah nor BJP chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa will become chief minister of Karnataka. Siddaramaiah, for his part, has exuded confidence that the Congress will get an absolute majority in Karnataka and has ruled out any possibility of a tie-up with the JD(S).

Meanwhile, repolling on three polling booths -- one in north Bengaluru's Hebbal constituency and two in Kushtagi in Koppal district -- was scheduled to be held on Monday, according to the Election Commission (EC). The repolling was scheduled to be held from 7 am to 6 pm.

According to most of the post-poll surveys, the BJP is set to emerge as the single largest party in Karnataka, with the JD(S) likely to emerge as the kingmaker. As reported earlier, while most exit polls predicted a hung Assembly with the BJP ahead, two said the BJP would either come very close to or cross the halfway mark of 112 seats. However, the India Today-Axis exit poll said the Congress might bag a majority. No government in Karnataka since the Ramakrishna Hegde-led Janata Party in 1985 has been re-elected.