Karnataka assembly elections: Allow us to prove majority in the assembly, Yeddyurappa urges governor

BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday urged governor Vajubhai Vala to let his party prove majority support in the Karnataka assembly as it is the single largest party. "BJP has emerged as the single largest party, we have requested the governor to give us an opportunity to prove our majority on the floor of the assembly," Yeddyurappa told reporters after meeting Vala along with Union minister Ananth Kumar.

Earlier today, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party but falling short of a majority, the Congress sprang a surprise, declaring it will back the also-ran JD(S) in forming the government.

Following Congress's announcement, Yeddyurappa accused the Congress of trying to subvert the popular mandate and come back to power through the back door by offering support to JDS to form the government.

Yeddyurappa said the people of the state had rejected the Siddaramaiah government "lock, stock and barrel" and given a mandate for change.

"The people had given a mandate for a Congress-mukt Karnataka," the BJP strongman told reporters shortly after the Congress offered support to JDS.

Yeddyurappa said there was anti-incumbency against the Siddaramaiah government and the chief minister himself had suffered a "pathetic defeat" in his home constituency of Chamundeshwari.

He said the party "condemns the devious means being adopted by the Congress."

"...the Congress is trying to subvert the popular mandate and come back to power through the back door. People of Karnataka will never accept this," he said.