Supreme court fixes deadline for Karnataka politics

New Delhi, May 17: In a historic decision, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has ordered, that a floor test is conducted in Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm on Saturday.

The SC was hearing a petition filed by the Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka against the decision of Governor Vajubhai Vala to invite BJP's BS Yeddyurappa to form the government.

Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi produced the letter by Yeddyurappa to the governor. "I have the support of others and the requisite majority," reads BSY's letter. Rohatgi said there was no need to name the MLAs supporting BJP.

The SC told Rohatgi while Yeddyurappa's letter didn't disclose names of MLAs, the other side gave letter signed by MLAs. "Ultimately it is the number game and the Governor needs to see which side has the number," the SC said.

Rohatgi insisted that there was an "unholy alliance" between the Congress and the JD(S). Earlier, sources said the Congress and the JD(S), fearing their MLAs being poached by the BJP, moved their MLAs out of Karnataka on Thursday night.

Sources said except two Congress MLA s all have gone to Hyderabad. All 38 JD(S) MLAs and two Independents are also in the city.