Karnataka political thriller reaches interval: what happened so far

BS Yediyurappa addresses the house members before a floor test, at Vidhanasoudha, in Bengaluru. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Following is the chronology of the Karnataka political crisis in which the Supreme Court on Saturday ordered live telecast of the floor test to be conducted at 4 pm:

May 12: Elections held in Karnataka.

May 15: Election Commission announces results. BJP emerges as single largest party with 104 members; Congress with 78 and JD(S) with 37 MLAs stitch an alliance.

• Both the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) combine stake claim to form government.

May 16: Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala invites BJP to form government and asks B S Yeddyurappa to take oath as chief minister the next day.

• Congress moves Supreme Court late evening against the governor's invitation to the BJP.

May 16-17: SC opens its doors at midnight for an urgent hearing.

May 17: Hearing begins at 2.11 am and concludes at 5.28 am. SC refuses to stay oath-taking ceremony of Yeddyurappa.

• Yeddyurappa sworn in as CM at 9 am.

May 18: SC orders floor test at 4 pm on May 19.

•Congress-JD (S) combine late at night move the SC challenging the governor's decision to appoint BJP MLA K G Bopaiah as pro tem speaker to conduct the floor test. SC says it will hear plea on May 19.

May 19: SC orders live telecast of floor test to ensure transparency in trust vote.

At 4 pm: Yeddyurappa says "I will not face confidence vote; I am going to resign".