Bengaluru : At the end of political drama of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday announced that the JD(S)-Congress combine has been invited by the governor to form the government in Karnataka and he will take oath as the chief minister on Monday between 12 noon and 1pm. And unlike BS Yeddyurappa, who stepped down as chief minister earlier today, the JD(S) state president said he will take oath at the Kanteerava stadium in the presence of all prominent chief ministers from the “anti-BJP” states.

Speaking to the media after his meeting with governor Vajubhai Vala, Kumaraswamy said: “I will be taking oath on Monday at the Kanteerava stadium. On the suggestion of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, we will be extending invitations to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, BSP supremo Mayawati, Telangana CM K C Chandrashekar Rao and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.”

The swearing-in ceremony is likely to become a platform for the anti-BJP forces to start pooling in resources ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Talks of a “mahaghatbandan” have already begun with both the Congress and JD(S) moving their MLAs to TRS-ruled Hyderabad amid fears of horse-trading.

A few weeks earlier, Banerjee and Rao held talks to discuss the possibility of regional parties coming together to form a united front to counter the BJP threat.

When questioned about dissent within the cadre, Kumaraswamy said there was no dissidence among JD(S) or Congress workers and it will be evident at Monday’s swearing-in ceremony.