From the BJP emerging as the single largest party in Karnataka and the midnight Supreme Court hearing to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s last-minute resignation, the way to Karnataka’s Vidhana Soudha was paved with several dramatic turn of events.
Even now, following Mr. Yeddyurappa’s resignation, the Congress-JD(S) combine still has a ways to go before being able to form the government in the State.
Here is a short chronology of the Karnataka political crisis:
May 12: Elections held in Karnataka.
May 15: Election Commission announces results. BJP emerges as single largest party with 104 members; Congress with 78 and JD(S) with 37 MLAs stitch an alliance.
May 15: Both the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) combine stake claim to form government.
May 16: Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala invites BJP to form government and asks B S Yeddyurappa to take oath as chief minister the next day.
May 16: Congress moves Supreme Court late evening against the governor’s invitation to the BJP.
May 16-17: SC opens its doors at midnight for an urgent hearing.
May 17: Hearing begins at 2.11 am and concludes at 5.28 am. SC refuses to stay oath-taking ceremony of Yeddyurappa.
May 17: Yeddyurappa sworn in as CM at 9 am.
May 18: SC orders floor test at 4 pm on May 19.
May 18: The Congress-JD (S) combine late at night move the SC again, this time challenging the governor’s decision to appoint BJP MLA K.G. Bopaiah as pro tem speaker to conduct the floor test. SC says it will hear plea on May 19.
May 19: SC orders live telecast of floor test to ensure transparency in trust vote.
May 19: At 4 pm, Mr. Yeddyurappa says “I will not face confidence vote; I am going to resign”.
