Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, May 17: Congress MLAs and leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and Siddaramaiah, gathered at Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Vidhana Soudha to protest against B S Yeddyurappa's swearing in as CM of Karnataka on May 17.

In a rare post-midnight hearing, the top court ruled out that it will not stop Yeddyurappa from taking oath as chief minister. "As far as swearing-in is concerned, we are not restraining it, but we are making it subject to the outcome of the case," a three-judge bench, comprising Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, said after the all-night hearing that stretched for three-and-a-half hours.

B S Yeddyurappa took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister on Thursday morning after the Supreme Court, in a rare overnight hearing on a petition by the Congress and the Janata Dal Secular, refused to stop the ceremony. The BJP leader has been given 15 days to prove majority by the Governor on Wednesday evening.

The Supreme Court will resume hearing the case Friday morning at 10.30 am and has ordered the BJP to produce the letters submitted by BS Yeddyurappa to the governor by then.

Congress and JD(S) lawmakers who were staying in Eagleton Resort have decided to protest outside Karnataka Assembly. The lawmakers have been camping at the resort since yesterday to avoid defection.

Congress president tweeted against Yeddyurappa’s swearing in as 'mockery of constitution. "The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy," he tweeted.