Senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa said he would be sworn in as Karnataka’s chief minister at around 6pm the same day, minutes after he called on Governor Vajubhai Vala to stake a claim to form the government. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah reacted by saying the BJP was using the Karnataka Assembly as an experimental laboratory, and asked how a governor could allow a party without a majority to form a government.

Before the meeting

Before going to the Governor at 10am, Yeddyurappa said he would request permission to take the oath at 12.30pm, adding that no legislature party meeting was needed since he was already Leader of the Opposition.

Speaker disqualifies three rebels

His meeting with the Governor came a day after three rebel Congress MLAs, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumatalli and Shankar, were disqualified under the anti-defection law by Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar. Kumar ruled that their resignations were “not voluntary and genuine” and disqualified them with immediate effect until the current House’s term ends in 2023. He made clear that a member disqualified in this way cannot contest or be elected before then.

The Speaker said he would decide on the resignations and disqualification pleas concerning 14 other MLAs within a couple of days, which could prolong the turmoil and affect government formation. His step-by-step rulings were seen as a stern warning to the remaining rebels, who were still in Mumbai and insisting they would not go back on their resignations.

Background

The 14-month-old Congress-JD(S) coalition led by HD Kumaraswamy fell on Tuesday when it lost a confidence vote, ending a three-week power struggle set off by the rebels’ resignations.

What happened next

After the coalition government fell in July 2019, Yeddyurappa returned as Chief Minister.

See also: Indian National Congress | State assembly members

Originally published on 26 July 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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