Karnataka Govt Formation LIVE: Karnataka LIVE: Congress and JDS Plan to Move MLAs Out of Bengaluru, Destination a Mystery

While reports were more than sure of the Congress-JD(S) MLAs being shifted to Hotel Crown Plaza in Kochi from Eagleton Resort in Bengaluru, the rumours mills are now saying that might not be the case. Media reports claim that Hotel Crown Plaza has been told that the ministers might not come today, while rumours of the alliance shifting their MLAs to Puducherry has emerged. The mystery over the destination has increased as both parties keep the media and the BJP guessing.

Spoke to a Karnataka Congress MLA’s wife and daughter, it was heartbreaking to hear the daughter cry and say she fears for her fathers life. One feels so helpless when politics comes to this.

— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) May 17, 2018

Congress leader and former Karnataka home minister Ramalinga Reddy has made a sensational claim, alleging that BJP men came inside the resort where the Congress MLAs were being kept an do offered them money there. This, he alleged, happened after new CM Yeddyurappa removed the policemen stationed outside the resort. “They have also been calling people on the phone constantly,” he says.  

After several delays and contradictory statements, MLAs who have been lodged in the Eagleton resort in Bengaluru are being moved out in a bus. Their likely destination is Kochi, Kerala, as the Left government in the state had offered them protection. Neighbouring Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have also been mentioned as possible destinations. But giving credence to the reports that the MLAs are headed to Kochi is the heavy police presence outside Kochi’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, where sources say 100 rooms have been booked.   

Leader of NPF Legislature Party, TR Zeliang, today commented on the turn of events after the recently held Karnataka Assembly elections. “Should the law of the country be distorted according to the convenience and advantage of a certain political party?” he questioned while wondering how different states were following different rules. He said that while the NPF, with 26 members, was the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly Election in Nagaland, it was not accorded the same privilege which the BJP, led by BS Yeddyurappa, was given in Karnataka on account of being the single largest Party. “Why the NPF-led Government was not allowed to be formed in Nagaland then?” he quizzed.

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has said claimed that all Congress MLAs are present at Eagleton Resort as of now. "It is unethical and unconstitutional that they are trying to woo our MLAs," he said. When asked if the BJP can elect its own speaker, Siddaramaiah said that cannot happen as there is no assembly as of now. "The governor has given time to prove majority. No executive order can be issued in that position," said the ex-CM.

"Whatever BJP has done in Karnataka is in accordance with rule book. Congress is ill informed and as a result is making these funny claims. They don't have faith on their MLAs as they have held them captive in a resort. JDS and Congress are scared after being exposed," says Prakash Javadekar.

The Congress-JD(S) MLAs are being shifted to Hotel Crown Plaza in Kochi. 100 rooms have been booked, with over 120 people arriving. Two chartered flights have been booked to bring in the MLAs. JD(S) leaders will leave first, followed by the Congress. The Kochi hotel has informed the parties that the check-in time is anywhere between 9 am and noon.

"At 8 pm, senior leaders and MLAs will meet. We are looking at all option to shift our base. Vizag, Hyderabad, Punjab and Delhi are all being looked at. We expect a good judgment in our favour by the Supreme Court. We are also seeking time from the President of India. We never asked for any security, it is their duty. The SP was transferred after the BJP came into power," says Congress leader DK Shivakumar.

Sources are telling News18 that Congress-JD(S) MLAs could be shifted to Kochi, Kerala. This comes after BS Yeddyurappa allegedly ordered Eagleton Resort's police cover to be withdrawn. The Congress was considering moving its MLAs to either Punjab or Kerala. Meanwhile, Meghalaya Congress is also staking claim to forming the government by stating that they are the single largest party in the state.

The All-India Anglo Indian Association has decided to move Supreme Court to petition against the nomination of an Anglo-Indian member till the floor test takes place. The petition by Clive Michael Vanbuerle, vice-president of the association, is seeking to be heard tomorrow.

In Meghalaya, Manipur and Goa, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party but the BJP had formed the government after making post-poll alliances.

Opposition parties are determined to organise a major movement across the country in defence of democracy, if parliamentary democratic norms are not followed in Karnataka, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said today. Parties such as the Congress, JD(S), the Left, and other regional ones, who are in touch with each other, are likely to meet either in Bengaluru or Delhi to chalk out their plan for the movement, opposition sources said. "We would decide (on future course of action) after the court's verdict. All opposition parties are determined to make this a major national issue in defence of democracy if blatant violation of our constitution continues and parliamentary democratic norms are not maintained," Yechury said.

'I am 100 per cent sure of the success,' Yeddyurappa says, striking a confident note on emerging victorious in the trial of strength in the assembly. He says he doesn't need 15 days and will prove his majority soon. 'I have people's support for me and my party,' said Yeddyurappa, who has now a tough task to muster the numbers to reach the half mark of 112.

All India Congress Committee General Secy Ashok Gehlot has issued a letter requesting all Pradesh Congress Committees, leaders and workers to organise state-wide dharnas at state capitals and district HQs tomorrow to protest against the Karnataka Governor inviting BS Yeddyurappa for forming the government:

All India Congress Committee General Secy Ashok Gehlot issues letter requesting all Pradesh Congress Committees, leaders & workers to organise state-wide dharnas at state capitals&dist HQs tomorrow to protest against K'taka Guv for inviting BS Yedurappa for making govt in K'taka. pic.twitter.com/5dCrttZZyp

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018

We are not only the single largest party but also the single largest block. The governor should have given us the right to form the government. This is a black day for democracy. I want to appeal to all opposition parties to unite against BJP's dictatorship," says former Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

Congress MLA Ramesh Jharkiholi has gone missing from the Eagleton Resort. He sat at the Dharna at Vidhana Soudha and then disappeared.

Sources have told News18 that after BS Yeddyurappa ordered Eagleton Resort's police cover to be withdrawn, the Congress is considering moving its MLAs to either Punjab or Kerala. Meanwhile, Meghalaya Congress is also staking claim to forming the government by stating that they are the single largest party in the state.

“The Congress has a history of ruining the constitution. Its better they don’t teach us anything. The Congress should not have gone to the Supreme Court. They won’t be able to prove majority as they don’t have the numbers,” says BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The Congress-JD(S) combine today moved the Supreme Court against the decision of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to nominate an Anglo-Indian member to the assembly, saying it should not be done till the floor test in the House. The petition was filed in the afternoon and is likely to be heard tomorrow along with the main petition of the combine on which the apex court in the wee hours today refused to stay the swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister of the state. In the petition, the Congress-JD(S) has sought a direction that the nomination of Anglo-Indian Vinisha Nero by the Governor be set aside till Yeddyurappa undergoes a floor test in the House to prove his majority. The fresh petition will be heard by a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, which in a historic pre-dawn hearing, allowed the scheduled swearing-in of Yeddyurappa as the chief minister. The strength of the Karnataka Assembly is 224 and nomination of one Anglo-Indian member takes it to 225.

The Congress-JD(S) combine today moved the Supreme Court against the decision of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to nominate an Anglo-Indian member to the assembly, saying it should not be done till the floor test in the House. The petition was filed in the afternoon and is likely to be heard tomorrow along with the main petition of the combine on which the apex court in the wee hours today refused to stay the swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister of the state. In the petition, the Congress-JD(S) has sought a direction that the nomination of Anglo-Indian Vinisha Nero by the Governor be set aside till Yeddyurappa undergoes a floor test in the House to prove his majority. The fresh petition will be heard by a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, which in a historic pre-dawn hearing, allowed the scheduled swearing-in of Yeddyurappa as the chief minister. The strength of the Karnataka Assembly is 224 and nomination of one Anglo-Indian member takes it to 225.

A creative by Mir Suhail. (News18.com)

"The only way 104 can become 112 in Karnataka is by money politics. If the Prime Minister is backing such unconstitutional behaviour then what is left? BS Yeddyurappa is a lamed up Chief Minister, brought into power by Vajubhai Vala working out of the Governor's house at the diktats of PM Modi," says Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

"We would be holding a one-day dharna tomorrow against the murder of democracy in Karnataka. We also request the Bihar Governor to dissolve the state government and like in Karnataka invite the single largest party, which in Bihar is the RJD," says former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

A meeting between Congress leaders is underway in Ashoka hotel. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjun Kharge are present in the meeting,

Karnataka Ripples in Goa | All 16 Goa Congress MLAs will march to Raj Bhavan calling on Governor tomorrow to stake claim for government formation claiming to be the single largest party.

Amid drama over Karnataka government formation, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu as people not to worry as democracy is safe. Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Naidu said, "Democracy is safe, don't worry." The vice-president's assurance comes soon after allegations were made by both the Congress and the BJP that democracy was under threat, indicating the current political situation in Karnataka. Congress Vice President said earlier in a tweet on Thursday, "The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy." Levelling similar allegations, BJP president Amit Shah had claimed democracy was murdered when Congress made an "opportunist offer" to the Janata Dal Secular for the formation of govt in Karnataka.

"It's indeed a dark day for democracy. The highest constitutional functionaries are given this discretion assuming they will conduct fairly. In this case, the governor did not. Congress and JD(S) should have been the natural choice for government. Poaching of MLAs, horse trading is being encouraged. MLAs have already started being poached," says Congress leader and former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar.

Congress and JD(S) move another plea in the Supreme Court to stop nomination of an Anglo-Indian member to Karnataka Assembly. The plea claims that it can't be done until B S Yeddyurappa proves majority on the floor of the house. Supreme Court will hear the plea tomorrow along with the main petition.

Centre Misusing ED to Threaten MLAs: HDK | JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy today said the Narendra Modi government wants to demolish democracy in the country and accused the Centre of using agencies like the Enforcement Directorate to threaten MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka. Addressing reporters after the BJP's B S Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Karnataka chief minister, he also reached out to non-BJP parties to join hands and bury their differences if any to "protect the interest of the country". Terming Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to invite Yeddyurappa to form the government "unconstitutional", the former chief minister  lashed out at the Centre and said, "How is this Central government behaving? This Narendra Modi government wants to demolish democracy in the country."  Kumaraswamy, whose claim to form the government was ignored by the governor, added that giving a party without majority the opportunity to form government and giving it 15 days for a floor test was probably a first in the country.  "What was the reason for 15 days...is it for business?" he asked. Responding to a question, Kumaraswamy said the Modi government was misusing central government agencies. "They are threatening and putting pressure on MLAs," he alleged. Referring to speculation that Congress MLA Anand Singh, who has been out of touch with his party, could rejoin the BJP, Kumaraswamy said the ED was being used against him as there was a case pending against him. "I have not spoken to Anand Singh... one of the Congress' MLAs told me that Singh had called him and expressed his problem... The Congress MLA gave me the message and asked me to take a lead in this issue," he claimed.