Karnataka Guv invites BJP to form govt

BANGALORE: Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Tuesday invited BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa to form the government in Karnataka.

On Monday evening, BJP's triumphant Chief Ministerial candidate, B S Yeddyurappa had met Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur to stake claim to form the government saying, "We have the numbers". His comment came after Independent MLAs attended the BJP legislative party meeting on Monday.

The saffron party was boosted by a Congress rebuff to a last ditch JD(S) attempt to form a coalition. JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda made several bids to rope in Congress to agree on forming an alliance government, fearful that a BJP in power would in all probability break his already decimated party. In fact, JD(S) even dangled a carrot proposing the names of a few Congress MLAs for chief minister's post, but Congress sources said the party was against subverting an unambiguous mandate in favour of BJP.

In its quest for majority, BJP won over Independent MLAs Shivaraj Thangadai and Gulihatti Shekhar, who appeared before the media along with the CM-in-waiting, Yeddyurappa, and BJP's national leaders. Later, Independent MLAs P M Narayanaswamy, D Sudhakara and Venkataramanappa too pledged support to BJP.