Stung by what the opposition called its "misadventure" in Karnataka, the BJP said this evening that it staked claim in Karnataka because it was the "mandate of the people". At a press conference, party chief Amit Shah said the "right" of the single largest party to form government. Regarding Congress claims about the BJP creating a precedent in Goa and Manipur for exactly the opposite, he said the party had stepped forward because the Congress didn't. "The Congress hadn't staked claim as 'single largest party' in these states. We did, and the Governor had no option," Mr Shah said two days after the dramatic resignation by BS Yeddyurappa in the Karnataka assembly ahead of the trust vote.
