Karnataka Governor invites JD(S)-Congress combine to form government

BENGALURU: With the fall of BJP?s three-day-old government in Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy heading the Congress-JDS coalition is set to become the chief minister for a second time on May 21.nnGovernor Vajubhai Vala today invited Kumaraswamy, who is the leader of Congress-JD(S) joint legislature party, to form the government.nn?On the invitation of the Governor I have met him on the basis of the request we had submitted on May 15 for the formation of Congress-JD(S) coalition government….he has invited us to form the government,? Kumaraswamy, who is also state JD(S) chief, said.nnSpeaking to reporters after meeting Vala, he said the Governor has directed him to prove the majority on the floor of the House in 15 days but he would do it much before.nnKumaraswamy said the swearing-in ceremony would take place tentatively between 12 and 1.50 pm at Kanteerava stadium here.nnHis meeting with the Governor came hours after B S Yeddyurappa stepped down as Chief Minister without facing the floor test in the assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers.nnThe post election stitched alliance of JDS and Congress, which claims the support of 117 members, has already staked its claim to form the government and said it would be headed by Kumaraswamy.nnThe third son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had earlier headed the BJP-JD(S) coalition government for twenty months from January 2006.nnKumaraswamy said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP chief Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao and several other regional leaders would be invited for the swearing-in ceremony.nnHe thanked UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, K C Venugopal, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC chief Parameshwara and also workers and legislators of both Congress and JD(S) for their support.nnKumaraswamy said modalities relating to government formation and number of ministers, who will be taking oath, would be discussed tonight under the leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad, and made public tomorrow.nnHe said the Congress and JD(S) would form a coordination committee on how to run a stable government and have mutual understanding so that it completes its full term.nnAsked by when he will prove majority, Kumaraswamy said ?As soon as possible we will call the assembly session to prove majority…. though Governor has given 15 days, we will not require that much time.?nnExpressing apprehension that the BJP would again indulge in ?operation Kamala (poaching on MLAs)?, he said ?I?m aware of it that they will create problem. JD(S) and Congress leaders will take all precautionary measures for it.?nnHe also ruled out any kind of differences among the party cadres on alliance with the Congress.nnSource: Press Trust of India