INDIA
The BJP meanwhile observes 'black day' against the JD(S)-Congress combine
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed their willingness to work together with HD Kumaraswamy, who took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister on Wednesday.
“We've come here to witness the swearing-in of HD Kumaraswamy and express our solidarity to him. In the future, we'll work together to protect and promote national interest. We're here to strengthen all regional parties,” they told reporters in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav also arrived in Bengaluru to take part in the oath-taking ceremony of Kumaraswamy.
Bengaluru: Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi arrive at Vidhana Soudha for HD Kumaraswamy and G.Parameshwara's swearing in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Ky6yvlaLH3
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Among the confirmed attendees at the swearing-in are United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.
Bengaluru: Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati at Vidhana Soudha ahead of HD Kumaraswamy and G.Parameshwara's swearing in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/ckhN3oIzIN
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan, Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and son of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, Tejaswi Yadav will also be present to witness Kumaraswamy's swearing-in.
Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda & his wife Chennamma arrive at Vidhana Soudha. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/KuTTu50Jy0
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Other notable guests include the founder of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Ajit Singh (also an ex-Union Minister), actor-turned-politician and founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam, Kamal Haasan.
Meanwhile the BJP today observed a 'black day' against the Congress-JDS government headed by HD Kumaraswamy ahead of its swearing-in, and gave a call to the "sidelined" Congress leaders in the new coalition to join the saffron party.
Bengaluru: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury met, ahead of attending HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in as Chief Minister of #Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/uTnCSqw3Sg
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
The BJP warned that it would hold a statewide 'bandh' if the new coalition government fails to fulfill its election promises.
Addressing the party workers who had gathered in large numbers to stage a demonstration near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Anand Rao Circle, BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa condemned the coalition government as "an opportunistic alliance." "There is a farm loan of Rs 53,000 crore. You have said you will waive all the loans. Let us see whether you will actually waive all the farm loans. If you fail, we will observe a bandh all over the state," he said.
The state BJP chief said the Congress should immediately distance itself from the JDS or else the dream of Congress-free India will be a reality soon.
"Congress has lost its base in the state. With whom will the Congress go tomorrow? Will you go with Kumaraswamy?," said Yeddyurappa.
He also gave a call to Congress leaders, who felt offended for being sidelined in the new scheme of things in the coalition government, to join the BJP.
BJP observing 'Anti-People's Mandate Day' in #Karnataka in view of the swearing-in ceremony of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government. BS Yeddyurappa says, 'hunger, greed & power is the basis of JD(S)-Congress alliance, such alliance will not even last 3 months' pic.twitter.com/8OliMHlRaj
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
"Congress leaders must wake up. Those who felt cheated can come to BJP. If there is any party, which has faith in democracy, it is BJP. Let us build Karnataka as a model state. I flay this coalition government," said Yeddyurappa.
Slamming the BJP for observing the "black day", JDS leader Kumaraswamy said, "Having no concern for public is BJP's style of functioning. Their politics revolved around misleading people by organising events like black day, some kind of Yatra and fomenting passions. You cannot expect anything better from them."
Yeddyurappa had stepped down as Karnataka chief minister within three days of assuming office after failing to muster enough numbers, without facing the floor test on May 19.
The BJP had emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats in the assembly elections, with a fractured mandate.
With Yeddyurappa failing to take the floor test, the Congress and JD(S) claiming the support of 117 MLAs was invited to form the government by Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Former deputy chief minister R Ashok, MP Shobha Karandlaje and BJP leader Jaggesh also participated in the protest.
Karnataka Congress president G Parameshwara will be sworn-in as the deputy chief minister, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state K C Venugopal said on Tuesday.
Congress's Ramesh Kumar, a former minister, will be the next Assembly speaker, while the deputy speaker's post will go to the JD(S), Venugopal told PTI.
The first task for Kumaraswamy would be a smooth expansion of his Council of Ministers, as the Congress would want to have a big share in the ministerial pie as it has more than double the number of MLAs the JD(S) has.
The Congress would have 22 ministers and JD(S) 12, Venugopal said, adding that they would be sworn-in after the floor test slated for Friday.
The Congress has 78 lawmakers in the Lower House against the 37 of the JD(S).
A section of Lingayat MLAs of the Congress wanted a person from their community to be the deputy chief minister as Kumaraswamy belongs to another politically influential caste, the Vokkaligas.
However, Rahul Gandhi approved the name of Dalit leader G Parameshwara for the post, Venugopal said.
D K Shivakumar, another Vokkaliga leader of the Congress, who emerged as a key figure in keeping the party MLAs together before the trust vote, was also a contender for the deputy chief minister's chair, but the party high-command opted for Parameshwara.
The JD-S's chief minister-designate said portfolio distribution would be discussed the day after tomorrow and a coordination committee would be formed to facilitate smooth functioning of the coalition.
Here's why Not Like Us singer Kendrick Lamar won't get paid for Super Bowl Halftime Show performance
Meet Samay Raina, creator of India's Got Latent, accused of promoting vulgarity, he is from...
Bank Holiday February 2025: Banks to remain closed in THIS state today due to...
Donald Trump issues BIG warning to Hamas, says 'all hell will break out' if...
Anil Ambani's RCap buy: Hinduja Group firm set to acquire debt-ridden Reliance Capital by THIS date
Meet man, MBA graduate from Harvard, who leads one of world’s big tech firms as CEO, he is...
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway opens, check travel time, toll fee and more
What happens during Snow Moon and when does it appear? Check dates and when to see
‘RBI’s gold buying is...’: FM Nirmala Sitharaman talks about rising gold reserves by central bank
Meet the Muslim king all set to challenge Donald Trump over Gaza, he is from...
Ranveer Allahbadia’s viral joke on Samay Raina's India's Got Latent was stolen! The original was...
THIS Indian billionaire carries coffin of his employee, netizens call him ‘true leader’
Days after Jeet Adani-Diva Shah's marriage, Gautam Adani set to spend Rs 6000 crore on...
'Please let me stay the night:' Female trainee asked to leave Infosys premises at 6 pm even after...
Auto driver’s son studies at IIT, but luxury hotel refuses his auto's entry, billionaire calls it...
Who is Kuldeep Sharma? Ex-IPS gets three-month jail term in...
Meet woman, who lived in village, later got job at Amazon, now working in US as...
Beef Biryani Row Explained: Police file FIR day after incident at AMU; here's what happened
Meet Anant Ahuja, Sonam Kapoor's brother-in-law who reportedly got Rs 6.56 cr by USAID
BIG move by Mukesh Ambani, launches Rs 10 product with former cricket star, it is...
Car gets stuck in wheat field in the dead of night, know what Google Maps error caused later
The Chabahar Puzzle: India’s Connectivity Dreams in US-Iran Turmoil
Delhi: Girls showcase their skills, strength in netball, Aali and Lal Kuan emerge winners
Elon Musk reacts to UK MP’s demand to replace 'Bengali' signboard at London Station, check here
Anupam Mittal's unique gift to Gautam Adani's son Jeet Adani will leave you in splits
Man dies after being sexually assaulted in Delhi, one arrested, this is what happened
After Deepinder Goyal's Zomato, here is the list of Indian companies that recently rebranded
Life Insurance Quotes Explained: Guide to securing your family’s financial future
Winter Essentials: Must-have home appliances to keep you warm, cozy
'Ishq Na Kario' Releases: Abhishek Kumar takes his first step in cinema
Roadmap to building Rs 5 crore retirement corpus with NPS
Sri Lanka suffers nationwide power outage due to monkey, know what exactly happened
Fatima Sana Shaikh makes this BIG claim about male actors, says, 'If Shah Rukh Khan...'
The Visionary Behind Modern Data Platforms: Shreesha Hegde’s blueprint for industry success
Sam Nujoma passes away at 95: Know all about Namibia's fiery freedom fighter and first president
'Jahan Kaam, Wahan hum': PM Modi pitches leadership mantra to students during Pariksha Pe Charcha
Raheja Developer's 42-floor The Leela Sky Villas to bring ultra-luxury to Central West Delhi
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have any tattoos, reason will leave you SHOCKED, it is...
Prayagraj sees 300-km-long traffic jam, leave devotees without food, water amid Mahakumbh
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row: CBI arrests four people in ghee adulteration case
JEE Mains 2025 Result: NTA JEE Session 1 result to be declared on..., know how to download scorecard
Donald Trump reveals BIG plan, says committed to 'buy and own' Gaza, allow others to...
Did Lionel Messi’s son Thiago score 11 goals in single match for Inter Miami? Here's the truth
India vs England: Rohit Sharma goes past Chris Gayle in all-time ODI list led by Shahid Afridi
Ed Sheeran BREAKS silence after Bengaluru cops stop his street performance: 'It wasn't just...'
India gains, Pakistan struggles: Forex reserves rise to Rs 55300044 crore, Pak's decline continues