Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)



Bengaluru, May 17: Hours after being sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka, B S Yeddyurappa announced a farm loan waiver here on May 17. However the order cannot be passed since the government is yet to be formed.



Addressing his first press meet after taking oath as CM, Yeddyurappa said, ““I am sure of winning vote of confidence. My government will complete 5 years. Congress-JD(S) combine are trying to grab power through ‘immoral’ post-poll alliance,”



Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the chief minister after the Supreme Court refused to stay the ceremony. The Congress had approached the top court, which conducted an overnight hearing on the issue.

The apex court has maintained that it cannot dismiss the decision of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on inviting any party to form the government. It, however, sought all letters submitted by Yeddyurappa to the Karnataka Governor. After taking the oath, Yeddyurappa will have to undergo a floor test in Assembly. The BJP has been given 15 days to prove majority by the Governor on Wednesday evening.



The top court passed its order after hearing a joint petition by the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala`s decision inviting Yeddyurappa to form a new government in the state despite having 104 MLAs - eight short of simple majority.



The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court refused to stay the Governor's invitation but did not dismiss the Congress-JDS petition, saying it was subject to hearing later on. It will hear the case again on Friday.



Congress and JD(S) MLAs and leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and Siddaramaiah,H D Deve Gowda, H D Kumaraswamy protested at Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Vidhana Soudha against B S Yeddyurappa's swearing in as CM of Karnataka on May 17.



Meanwhile, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, said, “B S Yeddyurappa has taken the oath but it's difficult to prove majority. Governor should have called those who had maximum numbers,"