JD(Secular) chief H D Kumaraswamy alleged that BJP has hijacked its two MLAs but expressed confidence that they will be back with them tomorrow. (Express Photo By Anil Sharma/File) JD(Secular) chief H D Kumaraswamy alleged that BJP has hijacked its two MLAs but expressed confidence that they will be back with them tomorrow. (Express Photo By Anil Sharma/File)

The Supreme Court Friday gave a clear cut, four-step instructions for holding the floor test at 4pm on Saturday to determine whether the day-old BS Yeddyurappa government has the support of the required number of MLAs to continue in government. While the Congress and the JD(S) welcomed the SC order, Yeddyurappa’s counsel had urged the bench to reconsider saying it was too soon. AG KK Venugopal asked the bench if it would consider secret ballots, but the bench rejected the suggestion. READ in Tamil

Yeddyurappa was administered the oath of office by Governor Vajubhai Vala Thursday morning, hours after the Supreme Court heard a plea by post-poll allies Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) challenging Vala’s decision to invite the BJP to form the government.

The bench, comprising Justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, also restrained Yedyurappa from taking any major policy decisions till after the floor test. It further restrained the new Karnataka government from nominating any Anglo-Indian member to the House till it proves its majority.

Welcoming the ruling, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “We congratulate the judiciary for saving the democracy and protecting the Constitution of India.”

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