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Karnataka Election Results 2018 Live Updates: SC Orders Floor Test Tomorrow, Governor Appoints BJP MLA As Pro-tem Speaker

Live updates from Karnataka.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

4:15 pm: Karnataka Governor Appoints BJP MLA KG Bopaiah As Pro-tem Speaker

12:50 pm: Supreme Court Order Vindicates Our Stand That Governor Vala Acted Unconstitutionally, Says Rahul Gandhi

After the Supreme Court ordered a floor test at the Karnataka Assembly tomorrow for the BJP to prove its majority, Congress president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at Governor Vajubhai Vala and the BJP.

He said that BJP's bluff had been called.

Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Congress, called the verdict 'historic'

The BJP welcomed the Supreme Court order and said they were 100% sure that they would be able to prove majority on the floor of the Karnataka Assembly.

The Supreme Court also directed that BS Yeddyurappa was not allowed to make any policy decisions till they proved their majority.

Yeddyurappa told the media that the BJP was sending over its files to the Governor and seeking for an assembly session to be called tomorrow morning.

Read more on governor Vajubhai Vala and his history as a BJP minister here.

11:40 am: Supreme Court orders Floor Test Tomorrow At 4pm

11:40 am: Additional Solicitor General Tells SC That Governor Never Received Letter With Signature From Congress-JD(S) MLAs

Meanwhile BJP seeks more time for floor test

11:30 am: Congress Argues Yeddyurappa Doesn't Have Letters Of Support From MLAs, SC Says Mukul Rohatgi Must Produced Letters

11:15 am: Best Solution Is A Floor Test At The Earliest, Says Supreme Court

But Congress leader and representative Abhishek Manu Singhvi asks the court to decide. He argues JD(S)-Congress must be given first chance.

11:10 am: One Who Enjoys Majority Should Be Asked To Form Government, Says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has asked the BJP counsel on what basis the Governor asked BJP to form government in Karnataka. To which, according to ANI, Mukul Rohatgi told the court, "We have certain information that many MLAs from other parties have not given any kind of written support to Congress-JD(S)."

The Supreme Court wondered whether the governor's decision had to be tested or a floor test has to be held on Saturday.

10:50 am: Supreme Court Hearing On Karnataka Begins, Yeddyurappa Says Ready To Prove Majority On The Floor Of The House

10:45 am: Our MLAs Threatened, Says Congress As BJP Reiterates It Has The Numbers To Form Government

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told ANI that Congress and JD(S) MLAs who are now inside the Park Hyatt Hotel in Hyderabad were threatened.

Meanwhile BJP's Sadananda Gowda took a dig at Congress saying:

10:16 am: Congress Says DGCA Denied Permission For Its Chartered Flights, SC Hearing Soon

The Supreme Court will soon hear the matter concerning the forming of government in Karnataka. Mukul Rohatgi who is representing the BJP told ANI:

Congress and JD(S) have alleged that the DGCA denied them permission to fly chartered planes from Bengaluru to Kerala as part of the conspiracy to stop the alliance from forming government, reported Hindustan Times.

Congress and JD(S) MLAs are all meanwhile all arriving at the Park Hyatt Hotel, waiting for the Supreme Court hearing.

End of updates for May 17

4:45 pm: Vajubhai Vala First Gave Up Seat, Then Democracy And Constitution For Modi, Says Congress

2:33 pm: DMK, Punjab Chief Minister Criticise Gujarat Governor For Karnataka Decision

1:25 pm: Congress Calls Yeddyurappa's Government A 'Short Lived' One, BJP Confident They Will Prove Majority In Assembly

Karnataka already has a chief minister, but the tussle for the chief minister's post continues with Congress and JD(S) sitting in protest. The Congress has said that Yeddyurappa's government will be a short lived one.

But the BJP remains confident that they have the numbers, they said that all independent MLAs are with them.

1:20 pm: BSP Chief Mayawati Says BJP Attacking Democracy

12:05 pm: Ram Jethmalani Seek's CJI's Permission To Intervene In Karnataka Matter

11:35 am: Congress-JD(S) Lash Out At BJP After Yeddyurappa's Swearing In

Congress president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP even as BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Karnataka's new chief minister. He said that the BJP was making a mockery of the Indian Constitution.

Meanwhile, HD Kumaraswamy told the press that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was misusing the the institutions of the Central government.

The Congress-JD(S) alliance continued their fight with even HD Deve Gowda reaching the Vidhana Soudha to show solidarity with the Congress leaders who were sitting in protest:

10:00 am: Congress Stages Protest Against Yeddyurappa's Swearing In

9:50 am: SC refuses to stay Yedyurappa's swearing-in, he takes oath as Karnataka chief minister

Congress-JD(S) alliance's last minute attempt to stall Yedyurappa's swearing-in by appealing to the Supreme Court late last night didn't work. Yedyurappa took oath as the chief minister of Karnataka minutes back.

Though the parties can challenge the governor's decision, they will have to wait and see if BJP is able to prove absolute majority in the floor of the house.

You can read all about what transpired between the SC and the Congress-JD(S) alliance here.

End of updates from 16 May

9:53 pm: It's Official, BS Yeddyurappa To Be Sworn In As Chief Minister Tomorrow Morning

After two days of drama, it looks like its finally over. A letter has been sent by the Karnataka governor to BS Yeddyurappa to form his government in Karnataka.

He has been given 15 days to prove majority.

Here's the letter:

Get more updates on what transpired in the last two days here.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.