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BJP’s Yeddyurappa confident of Governor’s invite amid charges of horsetrading

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8 years ago

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Amid allegations from Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) of trying to poach their MLAs, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, who was elected leader of Karnataka BJP legislature party, said he would take oath as chief minister tomorrow, Thursday, May 17.

Meanwhile, to forestall this, Congress and JD(S) were collecting signatures of their MLAs in support of HD Kumaraswamy as chief minister. The document will be submitted to Governor Vajubhai Vala later today (Wednesday, May 16). The two parties have also denied reports of any of their MLAs going ‘missing’.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Wala has not given out any indication either way so far. The Congress and JD(S) had jointly staked their claim to form government even as results were coming in, once it was clear that together they had a comfortable majority. Yeddyurappa had also met the Governor laying claim as leader of the single largest party to be invited first for forming government.

The principle Yeddyurappa is banking on does not apply any more after the Manipur, Meghalaya and Goa episodes where it was dumped to allow BJP to forge alliances and form governments, edging out the Congress as the single largest party.

All eyes are on Governor Vajubhai who, however, has let out any word so far. In Goa and other states, it was the BJP which had swiftly tied up alliances and approached the Governor to stake its claim and the Governor accepted it promptly. In Karnataka, however, the Congress was prepared and showed alacrity in extending unconditional support to JD(S) whose leader HD Kumaraswamy did not waste time in approaching the Governor.

To invite BJP, the Governor and the Centre need to work out a rationale that does not appear too brazenly disgraceful. Vajubhai Wala is former RSS man from Gujarat known to have a good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The time lag provides scope for parties to try and poach on legislators of other parties – a charge that Congress and JD(S) are levelling at BJP.

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of horse-trading. Speaking at a press conference, he said the party had offered JD(S) legislators Rs 100 crore and cabinet rank to get them to switch sides. “JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?” he said.

Prakash Javadekar, Karnataka BJP In-charge, speaking on horse-trading allegations by Congress and JDS, said, “Rs 100 crore figure is not only imaginary but it is what Congress-JD(S) do politics through. We are going by rules, we have submitted our claim to the Governor, are confident of forming the government.”

He said, “They are levelling baseless charges against BJP. Poaching and horse trading is not done by BJP, Congress is famous for it. Their own MLAs are not happy with their alliance.”

Asked how the BJP plans to achieve majority, Javadekar said “it would happen in the natural course of things”. Many lawmakers are “upset” with the “unethical marriage of convenience” between the Congress and the JD(S), he added.

Earlier, all three major parties – the BJP, Congress and JD(S) – held legislative party meetings today. Newly elected Karnataka BJP legislators formally elected B S Yeddyurappa as the legislative party leader.

JD(S) MLAs chose state unit chief H D Kumaraswamy as legislative party leader. However, ANI reported that two legislators, namely Raja Venkatappa Nayaka and Venkata Rao Nadagouda, were missing from the party meeting.

Yeddyurappa, the BJP’s nominee for chief minister, met governor Vajubhai Vala today and asked him to allow the BJP to form the next government in Karnataka. Speaking to mediapersons outside the Raj Bhavan, a confident Yeddyurappa claimed that he will take oath as chief minister tomorrow.

Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar alleged that the BJP was attempting to “poach” its MLAs and a plan to safeguard them was afoot, details of which would be revealed in due course of time. “They (BJP) are poaching our MLAs, we know that. Everyday there is a lot of pressure. But it not so easy because two parties have the necessary number. People are watching this,” he said.

Levelling a similar charge, JD(S) leader Saravana said several party lawmakers had been approached by the BJP, which had yesterday asked the governor for a chance to prove its majority. “I don’t know what they (BJP) are offering but they are trying to call our people, but they are not responding. We are all together, no one can touch our party. Our party MLAs are loyal to the party,” Saravana told ANI.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who resigned as chief minister yesterday, denied reports that some legislators of his party had gone missing. “All the Congress MLAs are intact. Nobody is missing. We are confident of forming the government,” he said before heading to the Congress party meeting at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office.

BJP’s future course of action:

While the Governor’s move is awaited anxiously, there is speculation also about the future moves of the BJP.

If invited first to form a government, one course of action the BJP may adopt is to repeat ‘Operation Lotus’ which it tried successfully in 2008 when it was short of majority and formed its first government in the state.

Yeddyurappa employed this tactic to buy over opposition party MLAs with money and power. BJP poached 20 MLAs from JD(S) and Congress, made them resign their seats and contest bypolls, between 2008 and 2013. This time it needs to get less than 10 MLAs for the magic figure to drop within its manageable limits.

Another way is make some MLAs of the Congress and JD(S) abstain during the trust vote.

A third option is to allow the Congress-JD(S) coalition to form government and try and bring it down later at an opportune time, use this to portray the combine as opportunistic, unreliable and unscrupulous and project itself as the party that can provide a stable government that can do all the wonderful things it claims to be doing at the Centre and in the states it rules.

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Amit Shah praises Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, says Nation above post

Amit Shah hailed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister, saying BJP places the nation and students above any position while highlighting the government’s commitment to examination reforms.

Published

5 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down as Union Education Minister, saying the move reflected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to placing the nation and students above any political position.

In a post on X, Shah said that for BJP workers, the country, its youth and students are more important than any office. He described Pradhan’s resignation as an example of the party’s guiding principle of prioritising national interest over personal ambition.

Shah highlights government’s focus on exam reforms

Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government respects the sentiments of students and remains committed to strengthening the examination system following concerns over alleged paper leaks.

He said the Centre has introduced strict measures to ensure severe punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks and expressed confidence that these steps would deliver justice to students who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Praises Pradhan’s work as Education Minister

Recalling Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, Shah highlighted several initiatives undertaken during his time in the Education Ministry. He credited Pradhan with helping implement the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI schools, promoting digital education, strengthening skill development and improving coordination between industry and academic institutions.

Shah also said Pradhan worked towards making examinations more inclusive and student-centric, adding that his tenure reflected his commitment to the vision of a developed India.

Resignation follows NEET controversy

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for accountability.

The resignation has triggered political reactions across party lines. While opposition parties have described the development as a result of sustained student protests, BJP leaders have projected it as an example of accountability and commitment to national interest.

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Centre ready for NEET debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak claims to be investigated: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the government is prepared for a detailed Parliament debate on the NEET paper leak issue and will investigate Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of multiple paper leaks over the last decade.

Published

4 days ago

on

July 22, 2026

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JP-Nadda

The Centre has reiterated its willingness to hold a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda saying the government is prepared for a debate of any duration. He also said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of around 152 examination paper leaks over the past 10 years would be investigated.

Government open to debate of any duration

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, JP Nadda said the government has consistently supported a discussion on the paper leak issue in Parliament. He stated that the Opposition could decide the duration of the debate through the Business Advisory Committee, whether it is a short discussion or one extending to 12 or even 18 hours.

Nadda, who is also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said the government remains fully prepared for a comprehensive discussion and urged the Opposition not to shift its position on the issue.

Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak allegations to be examined

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s recent presentation, Nadda said the Congress leader referred to nearly 150 paper leak incidents over the last decade. He described those claims as a matter that requires investigation and said the government would examine the allegations before presenting the facts to the public.

According to Nadda, a responsible government is committed to verifying such claims and ensuring that the truth is established through due investigation.

Calls for a united approach on NEET issue

Highlighting the significance of the matter, Nadda said the future of students should remain the top priority for both the government and the Opposition. He appealed to political parties to work together in finding a long-term solution to prevent examination irregularities.

He added that safeguarding the interests of students is a shared responsibility and called for constructive cooperation instead of political differences.

Nadda on meeting with CJP representatives

The Union Minister also spoke about his recent interaction with representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). He said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the government listened to their concerns and asked them to submit their suggestions in writing.

Nadda said the government remains open to further discussions whenever required and clarified that no meeting with the group was held on Wednesday.

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Opposition demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before NEET discussion in Parliament

The Opposition has demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before any discussion on the NEET paper leak in Parliament, while the Centre says it is fully prepared for a debate.

Published

4 days ago

on

July 22, 2026

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The political deadlock over the NEET paper leak issue continued in Parliament on Wednesday, with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion takes place. The Centre, however, maintained that it is fully prepared to debate the matter during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

Leading the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said there could be no fair discussion on the NEET issue unless Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.

Centre rejects Opposition’s condition

Responding to the Opposition’s demand, Leader of the House JP Nadda said the government was not avoiding a discussion and remained open to debating all issues, including the alleged NEET paper leak.

He said the government had already made its position clear and described it as transparent, adding that it was willing to discuss every matter raised by the Opposition.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also reiterated that the Centre had been ready for discussions since the beginning of the Monsoon Session. He said the government had consistently conveyed its willingness to debate the NEET issue and other important matters.

Rijiju added that if the Opposition was looking for reasons to avoid a discussion, it would not be appropriate. According to him, the procedure and timing of the debate would be decided after consultations among all parties under the Chair’s guidance.

Opposition maintains resignation demand

The government also informed the House that its willingness to discuss the issue had been communicated to Congress leaders and representatives of other political parties.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed the Opposition’s stand, saying students were seeking the resignation of the Education Minister before any discussion. He asserted that the resignation should come first, followed by parliamentary debate on the issue.

Akhilesh Yadav also joined Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs during a march towards the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of the protest over the NEET controversy.

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