Formation of government in Karnataka by BJP victory of ‘horse-trading’: Siddaramaiah

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka was not formed “constitutionally or ethically” and called it a “victory of horse-trading”. 

 “Yeddyurappa taking oath itself is against the constitution by misusing the office of the Governor though they don’t have the majority,” Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru.

The senior Congress leader said that after the disqualification of three rebel MLAs by Speaker Ramesh Kumar, the strength of the Assembly was 221 and the halfway mark was 111. However, he said the BJP has only 105 MLAs.

"This (BJP’s) is not a constitutionally or ethically formed government. How will they (BJP) prove majority then? Has it got any recognition within the framework of constitution?" Siddaramaiah asked.

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Terming the government formation by the BJP a “victory of horse-trading”, Siddaramaiah said that the HD Kumaraswamy government whould have not collapsed if the MLAs of Congress and JDS were not confined by the saffron party.

"They (BJP) confined our MLAs illegally by luring them and now they (BJP) are saying it is the victory of people.  No, it is not the victory of people. It is the victory of horse-trading," Siddaramaiah said.

The former Chief Minister claimed that two rebel MLAs had called him after their disqualification but he did not answer their calls. Four days after the coalition government collapsed, BJP leader BS Yediyurappa staked claim to form the government on Friday and took oath as chief minister the same day.