Mangaluru: While the Congress and Janata Dal(S) supporters carried out protest, the Bharatiya Janata Party celebrated here following the swearing-in of B.S. Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister.

A large number of Congress and Janata Dal(S) activists took part in the protest held near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Hampankatta. Speaking on the occasion, the former Congress MLA J.R. Lobo said that by denying permission to Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress to form a coalition government Governor Vajubhai Vala had acted against the precedents. The Governor had denied an opportunity to the two parties, which have 116 members, to form a stable government, he said.

Mr. Lobo said that the Governor has acted against the spirit of the Constitution. He accused the BJP of disregarding democratic values and practice. The denial of opportunity for the two parties to form a government was akin to “ murder of democracy”, he said.

Earlier, District BJP spokesperson Monappa Bhandary and other BJP party workers burst crackers near the party office after Mr. Yeddyurappa took oath as the new Chief Minister. After the celebrations ended, Mr. Bhandary and other party workers cleaned the road off the debris.