Yeddyurappa confident of being in power for 5 years
Bengaluru, May 17: Hours after taking oath on Thursday, an upbeat Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said he was confident of winning the majority and being in power for five years.
"I am thankful to the people of the state, especially farmers and the poor, who have supported me. People are with me and the BJP and I am confident that I will win the majority and be in power for the next five years," asserted Yeddyurappa, addressing the media after taking oath as the Chief Minister.
Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah for his swearing-in as the Chief Minister, he accused the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) of trying to steal the people's mandate by forming an alliance.
"The Congress and JD-S have formed an unholy alliance despite people choosing the BJP. We are confident of winning the majority," he said.
There were many JD-S and Congress legislators who know the BJP would form the government and he was confident they will vote for his government, he said.
Yeddyurappa, however, declined to elaborate how the BJP would gain the majority on the floor of the House, saying the issue was being heard at the Supreme Court.
Earlier, a three-judge bench of the apex court rejected a joint writ petition of the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular to stall the swearing in of Yeddyurappa at a special hearing early in the day.
The top court, however, said the swearing-in of Yeddyurappa was subject to the final outcome of the matter before it and posted the case for further hearing at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
Of the 222 constituencies where polling was held on May 12, the BJP won 104 seats while the Congress won in 78 and JD-S won in 38 seats, throwing up a hung Assembly. The BJP is still eight seats short of the 112-halfway mark needed for a simple majority.
According to Governor Vajubhai R. Vala's directive, Yeddyurappa has to prove a majority within 15 days.
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Won't contest bypolls until EC prevents fake voting: Mayawati
Lucknow (PTI): BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday alleged irregularities in voting in the recent Uttar Pradesh bypolls and said her party will not contest by-elections in future, particularly in the state, "until Election Commission takes measures to prevent fake voting".
By-elections to nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh were held on November 20 and results of it were declared on Saturday. Bahujan Samaj Party contested all nine seats but failed to win any.
"In the bypolls held for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, there is widespread discussion about the votes cast and the results announced yesterday. I am not saying this myself; it is a common perception among people that earlier, during elections conducted with ballot papers, fake votes were cast by misusing the system, often through fraud," Mayawati said in a press conference here.
"Now, similar practices are being carried out using EVMs, which is a matter of deep sorrow and concern for democracy," the former UP chief minister said.
Not only this, but these activities are now being executed more openly, especially during by-elections, as opposed to general elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, she claimed.
"We recently witnessed this in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls. Similar concerns have also been raised regarding the recent general elections in Maharashtra. This is a major warning bell for democracy in our country," she said.
"Given this situation, our party has decided that until the Election Commission of India takes strict measures to prevent fake voting, we will not participate in any by-elections across the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. I am specifically referring to by-elections here," Mayawati said.
As far as general elections are concerned, she continued, there is a somewhat better safeguard because the fear of power changing hands makes the ruling party more cautious.
"In general elections, it is not guaranteed that the party in power will return to power and another party may take over. This fear keeps the government machinery somewhat restrained," she added.
Considering all these factors, our party will contest general elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies with full preparation and strength, Mayawati stressed.
In the bypolls, the BJP and its ally RLD together won seven seats while Samajwadi Party candidates emerged victorious on two.
