Show of strength at the Karnataka Vidhan Soudha with both JDS and Congress MLAs protesting BS Yeddyurappa's swearing in as the CM.

JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy says he will request his father (HD Deve Gowda) to take the lead and talk to all regional parties and see how BJP is destroying democratic systems. "We have to come together to protect interests of the country," he said.


"The Modi govt is misusing the institutions of the central govt. I know they are threatening MLAs. Anand Singh (Cong MLA) said they are using ED. He said he had a case in ED & they are going to use it against me. He said he has to protect his interest," Kumaraswamy added.


Several senior Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, Mallikarjuna Kharge, party's General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, sat at the foot of the statue, staging the protest.


The newly elected Congress legislators, who are staying at a resort on the city outskirts, also joined the protest. Janata Dal (Secular) legislators and leaders will also be joining the agitation soon, party sources said.


Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah termed as "unprecedented" Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to grant 15 days time to Yeddyurappa for proving majority in the assembly. He said Yeddyurappa would now have to furnish the list of MLA's supporting him immediately.