Here are the all-important letters from Yeddyurappa to the Karnataka Governor that the Supreme Court had ordered to be produced

The letters sent by now Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala staking a claim to forming a government in the state have been accessed. These are the letters that were submitted in the Supreme Court on Friday morning after the three-judge-bench had asked for them in its order after the marathon hearing on the early-early hours of Thursday before Yeddyurappa was sworn in.

The first letter, written on May 15, i.e. the day of the election result, sought an "Urgent appointment" with the Governor. A 13 member delegation was mentioned in the letter.

The second letter, also written on May 15, states the following:

Sir,

As you are aware people of Karnataka elected Bharatiya Janata Party and our Party has a emerged as single largest party. There was no pre-poll alliance in the just concluded elections between Indian National Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). Our party is in a position to form the government in Karnataka. We are willing to prove our majority on the floor of the house.

As per the decision of the Supreme Court of India in the case of SR Bommai, a nine judge bench has underlined the significance of a floor test when there are claims by two political groups while laying down that floor test must be conducted by the Governor as soon as possible.

Therefore, our party requests you to allow us to form the government and prove our majority in the floor of the house.

The third letter, written on May 16, i.e. a day after the results, is as follows: 

Sub: Request to invite Bharatiya Janata Party to form the Government in Karnataka

1. I am pleased to bring to your kind notice that in the elections held to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on 12th May 2018 (results of which were declared on 15th May, 2018) the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats out of total strength of 224 seats (elections took place to 222 seats and elections to 2 more seats are yet to take place).

2. The meeting of the BJP Legislature Party held today (16.05.2018) unanimously elected me,  BS Yeddyurappa, as the leader of the BJP-Legislature Party. The resolution passed to that effect is enclosed herewith for your kind perusal.

3. The people of the State of Karnataka have elected our party - BJP as the single largest party in the elections and have given the mandare for change. Being the single largest party, BJP has a rightful claim to form the Government. As per the law and judicial precedents the BJP, being the single largest party is required to be invited to form the Government. I am confident that I will be able to prove my majority on the floor of the House and provide a stable Government. I have the support of others and requisite majority. Hence, I humbly request your Excellency to invite me to form the Government.

When the letters were produced in the Supreme Court on Friday, the apex court bench had observed that it didn't carry the names of the MLAs whose support Yeddyurappa was citing for his majority, unlike the letter issued by the Congress-JD(S) alliance. Rebutting this, the government's representation said that the Congress-JD(S)' list had simply been downloaded from the Election Commission's website and didn't have all the signatures. During the marathon overnight hearing earlier, the government's representation had alleged that the Congress-JD(S)' letter contained forged signatures.