Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) The NCP today criticised Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's move to invite the BJP to form the next government in the state, stating that it amounted to encouragement of horse trading and use of money power.

Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar tweeted, "By inviting the BJP (without having majority) to form the government in Karnataka, the Governor has done nothing but made sure that MLAs are traded like cattle".

NCP national spokesman Nawab Malik , in another tweet asked, "Is 104 majority or 116 ? Is 36% a mandate or 56% ? When there is a fractured mandate, the majority should be allowed to form a government. What the governor of Karnataka is doing is not his decision. It is dictated upon him by BJP. Use of money power is evident. "

Amid intense jockeying for power and allegations of horse-trading, the Karnataka governor today invited the BJP's B S Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state, prompting the Congress to move the Supreme Court accusing the governor of acting as a "stooge" of the saffron party.

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