Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha moves SC over invitation to Congress-JD(S) to form govt in Karnataka

Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) moved the Supreme Court on Monday challenging Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite H D Kumaraswamy, leader of Congress-JD (S) combine, to form government in the state.

The organisation moved the top court Monday evening and sought an urgent hearing to get a stay order on the Governor’s decision to invite the combine to form the government on various grounds, including that the formation of a post-poll alliance was “unconstitutional”.

Kumaraswamy is scheduled to take oath as the chief minister on May 23.

The ABHM, in its plea filed through lawyer Barun Kumar Sinha, has sought quashing of the Governor’s communication inviting Kumaraswamy to form government.

On May 19, the Supreme Court had ordered live telecast of the crucial floor test in the Karnataka Assembly to ensure “transparency” in the trust vote.

Soon thereafter, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had resigned without facing the trust vote on the floor of the House.

Elections held on May 12 to 222 of the state’s 224 seats had resulted in a hung assembly with the BJP getting 104 seats, while the Congress winning 78 and JD(S) 37. Polling in two seats will be held later.

The Congress-JD(S) combine has claimed the support of 117 MLAs, including one from the BSP, and two others.