Yeddyurappa swearing-in likely on Friday

The Bharatiya Janata Party's dream of forming its first government in South India will most probably become a reality on May 30. BJP leaders who met in Bangalore on Tuesday fixed May 30 as the tentative date for B S Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as the chief minister of Karnataka.

BJP leaders say a final decision in this regard would be taken in the evening today. Initially the swearing-in was fixed for May 28, but Yeddyurappa preferred May 29 as it was auspicious.

However, now the BJP thinks May 30 is fine as there are still some formalities yet to be completed in so far as revocation of President's rule in Karnataka is concerned.

Sources at Raj Bhavan told rediff.com that the required documents and letter recommending the revocation of President's rule and installing a popular government had already been sent across to the Union government. The Union Cabinet would have to meet, discuss the issue and forward its recommendation to the President following which President's rule would be revoked.

Even as these procedures are underway, the BJP's core committee is currently meeting in Bangalore to discuss government formation and distribution of portfolios among the MLAs, including five independents. The meeting is being attended by senior leaders Arun Jaitley, Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar, and a final list is expected to be out by the evening.

The BJP with 115 MLAs had met Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Monday night to submit letters of support and also conveyed to him that they had the required numbers in the 224-member house.