New Delhi, May 17: The Supreme Court has constituted a 3-Judge bench to hear Congress, JD(S) plea regarding the Karnataka Governor inviting BS Yeddyurappa for swearing-in on Thursday morning. The hearing is to begin at 1.45am. Justice Bhusan will head the hearing that will take place in Court no. 2 of Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had termed the Governor's letter of invite to BJP Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa as "murder of democracy." Vajubhai Vala, the Governor of Karnataka, on Wednesday evening had sent the letter of invite to BS Yeddyurappa allowing him to take oath for office on May 17, Thursday.

Immediately after news broke out, Congress leaders and legal experts like P Chidambaram, Kabil Sibal, Randeep Surjewala and Abhishek Singhvi. The Congress then approached the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra for urgent hearing of the case. A decision was taken by Supreme Court to form a 3- Judge Bunch to hear the case at 1.45am which will begin shortly.

The matter was taken to the Supreme Court as the BJP, which won 104 seats in the Karnataka assembly elections held last week, has been invited by the Governor to form the next government. On the other hand, the Congress-JD(S) combine was not allowed to stake its claim over government formation, despite showing support of 117 MLAs -- five more than the majority mark.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 17, 2018 02:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).