K'taka political turmoil: SC judge suggests 'floor test would be best option'

ANI  |  New Delhi [India] 

Amid political turmoil in Karnataka, Justice Kumar Sikri opined that a floor test would be 'the best option'.

"It is just a number game; one who enjoys the majority should be invited to form the government," it added.

Meanwhile, the for the Congress- Janata Dal (Secular) alliance, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, submitted to the that they are ready for a floor test tomorrow.

Singhvi also sought proper security for the Congress-JD(S) MLAs, in case the floor test is conducted.

The top court on Friday began hearing the petition filed by the and JD(S) challenging the decision of Vala to invite the BJP to form the government in the state.

Former Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing on behalf of the BJP, handed over two letters of the BJP to the Court, and argued that B.S Yeddyurappa, who was elected as the of the largest party, has the support of necessary number of MLAs and is ready to prove it in a floor test in the House.

Furthermore, Rohatgi claimed that the BJP was in possession of certain information that many MLAs from other parties had not given any kind of written support to the Congress-JD(S) alliance.

The elections in witnessed a lot of to-and-fro allegations filled with jibes between and Rahul Gandhi, but the real twist came in after the results threw a hung Assembly with the BJP emerging as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by (78) and the JD-(S), which won 37 seats.

Despite Congress and JD-(S) forming a quick alliance and being in a strong position to form the government with enough seats together (115), Vala on Wednesday went on invite the BJP to form the new government, which led to filing a plea in the Supreme Court, which led to a rare midnight hearing by the three-bench of justice A.K. Sikri, justice S.A. Bobde and justice

However, the court refused to stay the oath-taking ceremony, following which Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the 23rd of Karnataka on Thursday morning.

While the BJP has managed 105 MLAs (including one Independent seat), they are still short of the halfway mark of 112 by seven MLAs and have been given 15 days to prove their majority in the Karnataka assembly by the

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, May 18 2018. 12:15 IST