Karnataka

New Delhi, May 19: The BJP’s “Operation Lotus” to poach legislators from other parties has failed and democracy has won in Karnataka, the Congress said soon after Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign without facing a trust vote on Saturday. Lotus is the poll symbol of the BJP. “‘Operation Lotus’ fails! #BSYeddyurappa remains 2 day CM as the country predicted, breaking

Bengaluru, May 19: As predicted by many political pundits B S Yeddyurappa today delivered an emotional speech in the assembly and immediately resigned as chief minister without facing the floor test. This time Yeddyurappa held the CM post for 30 hours. He tendered his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala before 4 p.m. Despite the high drama for the last four days, with allegations of poaching and

Bengaluru, May 19: A day after the audio clip of Gali Janardhana Reddy luring a Congress MLA by promising him assets and ministerial berth went viral, the Congress released another similar audio clip of conversation between BJP leaders and a Congress MLA. In the fresh audio clip of a purported conversation between BJP leaders Sriramulu, Muralidhar Rao and Congress MLA B C Patil, the saffron outfit

Bengaluru, May 19: The floor test in the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled for 4 pm today, as per the Supreme Court order. Senior BJP MLA K.G. Bopaiah, who was appointed as the Pro Tem Speaker by Governor Vajubhai Vala, will oversee the proceedings, which will also be telecast live. BJP, with 104 seats, is seven short of the required number of 111. The Congress with 78 MLAs, the JD(S) with 36 and

Bengaluru, May 19: Amid unexpected turn of events in Karnataka politics, all eyes will be on 18 Lingayat MLAs from Congress and two from JD(S) when CM B S Yeddyurappa takes the floor test in the assembly later today. Many BJP leaders think Lingayat MLAs from the two opposition camps might cross-vote in favour of the trust vote, keeping in mind their own political future and to avoid incurring the

Benagluru, May 19: Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that neither his party nor Janata Dal (Secular) would allow a voice vote when Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa moves a trust motion. “We’re not bacchas here. We’ve seen the Assembly for 30 years. There law is clear. We want division of votes. We will not allow a voice vote,” Shivakumar told reporters. Two Congress MLAs - Anand Singh

New Delhi, May 19: Ahead of the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly on Saturday at 4 pm, the Supreme Court has rejected a petition by the Congress-JD(S)challenging the appointment of K.G. Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker. The court said he will continue to be the pro-tem speaker. At the moment, the oath ceremony is being conducted by pro-tem speaker K.G. Bopaiah in the state assembly of Karnataka and

Mangaluru, May 19: A Qatar-bound passenger was arrested with huge quantity of of marijuana (ganja) at Mangaluru International Airport yesterday by the personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The accused has been identified as Kalai Tasleem Basheer, a resident of Kalai in Karnataka. He had reportedly concealed the marijuana inside three giant pumpkins. He was scheduled to depart

Bengaluru, May 19: Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sadananda Gowda on Saturday averred that B. S. Yeddyurappa will remain the Chief Minister of Karnataka for five years. "Wait till 4.30 pm. We will win and B.S. Yeddyurappa will be the Chief Minister for five years," Gowda said. Meanwhile, ahead of the crucial floor test at 4 pm in the state assembly as directed by the

Bengaluru, May 19: Hours before the floor test is set to begin in Karnataka assembly, Congress leaders said they have the numbers and ultimately they will form the government in the state in alliance with Janata Dal (Secular). Before leaving for the assembly, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said the numbers are against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and expressed