Karnataka swearing-in: Yeddy's grim prediction for Kumaraswamy; top updates

Karnataka Chief Minister-designate H D Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru on Wednesday will be used by Opposition parties for a "show of strength" against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Several prominent Opposition leaders and chief ministers, including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, confirmed that they would attend the swearing-in of the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) leader. Meanwhile, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said that "hunger, greed and power" were the basis of the JD(S)-Congress alliance, adding that such an alliance would "not even last three months".

United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among others, are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

While the Congress-JD(S) combine has a reason to cheer, a defiant BJP state unit will protest across Karnataka on Wednesday against the formation of the coalition government. The BJP is observing the occasion as the 'anti-people's mandate day' across the state.

Had to swallow bitterness: Karnataka Cong leader on JD(S) alliance; updates

Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar on Monday said he had to swallow bitterness that he had with Janata Dal (Secular) in order to give Karnataka a secular government. He said it was party president Rahul Gandhi's decision that there should be a secular government in the state.

He, however, refused to comment on the alliance's chances of completing the full term, saying the party had various issues and options before it.

Some media reports have indicated resentment within the Congress over its alliance with the JD(S). The reports, however, have been trashed by JD(S) leader and CM-designate H D Kumaraswamy.

Shivakumar's statements reflect the Congress' new compromising attitude to stitch together a broad alliance for taking on the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming polls.

After the Karnataka election result, the party decided to play second fiddle to a smaller outfit, the JD(S) in the southern state, receiving accolades from several regional parties.