Politics
Supreme Court begins hearing Congress-JD(S) petition against Karnataka Governor’s decision at 1:45 am

Just after Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala invited the BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state, the Congress moved the Supreme Court to oppose the Governor’s decision. In their petition, Congress and Janta Dal (Secular) have sought a hearing from the apex court, against the decision of Yeddyurappas swearing-in ceremony as the CM of Karnataka, which is scheduled to be held tomorrow morning (May 17, 2018) at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
According to reports, The Supreme Court registrar has arrived at the residence of the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra a while back, with the Congress and JD (S) petition, and the hearing is about to begin.
In his tweet on Wednesday late night, Congress senior leader Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi wrote: “Ever heard of 15days 2prove majority 2 a 104 MLA strength party when opposers gave lists totalling 116! Sc reduced floor test duration in Jagdambika pal UP case; anil jha Jharkhand case & kevalker Goa case from 7days to 48 hrs in each case. No reason for SC 2differ this time.
He further tweeted: “Governor cld not have given written permission & license 4poaching more effectively than by this letter inviting BSYs minority & then giving them 15days 2show majority. Elementary common sense tells all that no one with 104 can cross 112 wo massive horse trading.
According to sources, Congress, which, along with JD (S) , has a total strength of 117 MLAs, had already planned to move court as the speculations were rife that its post-election ally HD Kumaraswamy of the JD (S) would not be invited by the Governor to form the new government in Karnataka.
Governor has given the single largest party ? BJP ? 15 days to prove its majority in the assembly.
Denial by govnor 2cong JDS after assertion of joint numbers wld b illegal,unctal & contrary to(1) kavlekar judgement of Goa by SC(2) Sarkaria Comm (3) rule that single party rule inapplicable where anr combination has more numbers(4) against KR Narayanan, Goa, manipur precedents
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
Ever heard of 15days 2prove majority 2 a 104 MLA strength party when opposers gave lists totalling 116! Sc reduced floor test duration in Jagdambika pal UP case; anil jha Jharkhand case & kevalker Goa case from 7days to 48 hrs in each case. No reason for SC 2differ this time.
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
Governor cld not have given written permission & license 4poaching more effectively than by this letter inviting BSYs minority & then giving them 15days 2show majority. Elementary common sense tells all that no one with 104 can cross 112 wo massive horse trading.
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
This is interesting ! BSY had asked for seven days time to prove majority. Governor gives him fifteen days!This by itself is enuff to prove discarding of all constitutional Norms & acting virtually as a partisan agent of the central Govt nt a ctal functionary.
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
Since swearing in now announced for 9 am on 17/5/18, in a 9 pm invite by governor today to BSY to form Govt, urgency to seek listing in sc tonite is self validating. If sc registry accepts petrs request on basis of petn settled by me and filed tonite, I wl appear and argue tonite
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
Apparently BSY is not as attached 2astrology as 2his coveted CM post. Initially, he had proclaimed 1230 pm as astrologically propitious 4swearing in. Now it seems that cong jds threat of sc legal action led him 2prepone swearing in to 930! Remember courts normally sit at1030 am.
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
Does cumulative impact of foll admitted facts nt establish ctal decimation by govnor as partisan agent of ruling party & Govt? Judge 4urself (1) 104 vs 116 (2) 7 days asked by BSY, 15given by gov!(3) Goa, manipur, delhi, kr Narayanan et al egs of single largest combination called
Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 16, 2018
Karnataka BJP deletes the tweet announcing BS Yeddyurappa’s swearing-in as Chief Minister of Karnataka, tomorrow. #KarnatakaElectionResults2018 pic.twitter.com/KtoaJFXA5C
ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018
Governor holds an exalted constitutional office, he shouldn’t walk on a perilous path which is illegal,he’s bound by SC judgement,bound to invite leader of alliance which is presented to him as an alliance that commands maturity of members in legislative assembly: P Chidambaram pic.twitter.com/wQucJStzWW
ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018
He thinks he is the boss of the party, the party has suffered because of his arrogant behaviour. He is not a true Congressman. Many people have this view of him but don’t express it: K. B. Koliwad,Outgoing Karnataka Assembly Speaker and Congress leader on Siddaramaiah pic.twitter.com/MLGVY7t7Lv
ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018
By giving 15 days time (to prove majority) Governor is encouraging horse-trading by BJP leaders, this is unconstitutional. We will discuss the future plan: HD Kumarasway, JD(S) on Karnataka Governor’s invite to BJP to form government #KarnatakaElectionResults2018 pic.twitter.com/QjpPQdc34x
ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018
Supreme Court Registrar arrives at the residence of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, with the petition filed by Congress and JD(S) over swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa as #Karnataka Chief Minister tomorrow pic.twitter.com/QRIVkLknB2
ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2018
COVID-19
Thane Municipal Corporation adds 25 beds as COVID cases rise
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) added 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa apart from arranging a special ward dedicated to COVID-19 patients. The total number of active patients in the city stood at 252 while five succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said a ‘death audit’ of patients who died of COVID would be conducted. The TMC has ensured it has additional stock of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, medicines, to name a few. Bangar told HT, “Due to the increasing number of Covid patients, it is necessary for everyone to be alert.”
He added, The number of Covid tests should be increased to stay one step ahead of the disease. As a result, the number of patients is likely to increase due to increased testing. However, as per the ‘test, isolate, treat’ protocol for Covid, it becomes necessary to isolate and treat more and more patients. The testing centres will not remain closed even for a single day. At the same time, more arrangements for testing will be made immediately in public places, markets, railway stations, malls.”
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
Politics
After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified

Rahul Gandhi
An independent candidate for Lok Sabha elections named Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses. Gandhi, who’s name figures as ‘Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma’ in an Election Commission list of persons, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent and had received 2196 votes from the Wayanad seat in Kerala – a constituency from where ex-Congress MP Rahul Rajiv Gandhi had won with over seven lakh votes.
However, since it is mandatory for all contestants to submit their account of election expenses among other mandatory requirements under EC rules and the Representation of the People Act.
Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma stood disqualified to contest polls from September 13, 2021 till September 13, 2024. According to Section 10A, the Election Commission can disqualify a contestant for a period of three years from the date of the order if he/she has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law and has no good reason or justification for the failure.
Also read: ‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah
Nagpur News
Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
A total of 22 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagpur in past 24 hours on Thursday. Almost 242 people were tested in the city, out of which 15 belonged to urban area while and 6 were from the rural areas, and one from outside Nagpur district.
At present, there are 72 active patients in the city. Three new cases of the new XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 were detected that took the total tally to five in the district.
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: CELESTIAL! Unique alignment of Moon and 5 planets