Congress and JDS choose HD Kumaraswamy as leader

BENGALURU: Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite BJP to form the next government in Karnataka brought to an end the confusion and drama that prevailed in Bengaluru the whole day on Wednesday. Congress, which offered unconditional support to a government led by JDS cited recent Supreme Court verdict that endorsed the Goa governor’s action and the actions of the governors of Manipur and Mizoram, where coalitions led by BJP were invited on the strength of having numbers, though BJP was not the largest party. BJP’s Muralidhar Rao said: “The two parties did not have an alliance before the results came out and have ideological differences with each other. Our legislature party leader BS Yeddyurappa will take oath tomorrow and expand his cabinet after proving his majority.”

Earlier in the day, BJP elected Yeddyurappa as its legislature party leader. He met the governor and staked claim to form government. Congress and JDS also held legislature party meetings and the latter elected HD Kumaraswamy as its leader, making him the CM candidate for the combine.

Congress did not elect a leader as is the norm, a party legislator said: “Our leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad told us that this was just an emergency meeting and that an official legislature party meeting will be held later to discuss other matters including election of the CLP leader.” Even though there was no certainty on receiving the governor’s invite the two parties worked out details of the coalition government arrangement.