Bengaluru: Former CM and BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the 24th CM of Karnataka in stormy circumstances on Thursday after the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to his oath-taking ceremony overruling objections of the Congress-JD(S) coalition but his future remains shaky as the BJP has only 104 members in the state Assembly and will have to muster the magic number of 113 to win the trust vote which could happen anytime.
His future also hinges on a crucial hearing of the top court on Friday when it takes up the petition challenging his oath-taking, again. The court will take up for scrutiny the two letters written by Yeddyurappa to the Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala on May 15 and 16 staking his claim to form the government.
Even as the Congress and Janata Dal (S) staged a protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue near Vidhana Soudha, the 75- year- old Lingayat strongman walked into Raj Bhavan, a green shawl thrown over his shoulders, to a rousing welcome by party workers and leaders to be sworn in for the third time as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
He told the waiting media he would prove his majority on the floor of the legislature even before the 15 days given by the Governor were up, and was confident that all the 224 MLAs would go by their conscience and vote in favour of the people's verdict.
"The Congress and JD(S) formed an unholy alliance even after the people outrightly rejected them. We are confident we will win the trust vote and rule for five years. I will not wait for the 15 days given by the Governor to prove my majority," he said confidently.
But Mr. Yeddyurappa did not explain how his government intended to get the support of the nine MLAs it needed to be able continue in office. "The matter is pending before the Supreme Court, I don't want to discuss this," he replied when asked about it, only saying that he was a 101 per cent sure of winning the trust vote and forming a full-fledged government.
