Governor invites BJP to form government

Karnatka: Ending all speculations, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Wednesday evening invited the BJP to form the government. The BJP which emerged as the single largest party in the elections has been given 15 days time to prove majority in the floor of the house. The BJP has won 104 seats in the elections. The governor’s move will be a setback for the JD(S)-Congress alliance that has approached the governor with the signature of over 115 MLAs.
The drama over government formation in Karnataka intensified on Wednesday evening with a BJP MLA tweeting that the governor has invited his party to form the government. The BJP for Karnataka official twitter handle also tweeted the same but within a few minutes both the tweets were deleted. No single party was able to win a majority of 113 seats in the Karnataka elections, paving way for frantic negotiations and post-poll alliances on Tuesday. The BJP, which won 104 seats in the 224-member House, emerged as the single largest party but fell short of complete majority. The Congress, with 78 seats, and the JD(S) with 37 — together they have 117 seats (with the support of 1 BSP and 1 Independent) — rushed to join hands and stake claim to form the government in a bid to keep the BJP out of power in the state.
Unknown persons snatch rifle from cop, Omar expresses concern
Srinagar: Unknown persons on Wednesday snatched a rifle from a policeman at the Kashmir University in Hazratbal, Srinagar.
Reports said that some unknown persons overpowered a policeman posted at the Rumi Gate of the varsity and fled with his rifle.
Reports added that a search operation was launched in and adjacent areas while vehicles were thoroughly checked, however, neither the rifle was recovered nor any arrests were made.
While reacting over the incident, former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while expressing concern said that no place seems safer in Kashmir Valley.
“They are even snatching rifles outside Kashmir University now. It doesn’t look like any place in Kashmir is safe any longer,” Omar Abdullah tweeted.