SENSATIONAL: A day before Karnataka floor test, 8 Congress-JD(S) MLAs are in New Delhi and in touch with BJP, claim sources

In a sensational political scoop just hours after the Supreme Court ordered the Yeddyurappa-led Karnataka government to prove its strength in a floor test at 4 pm on Saturday, sources have claimed to Republic TV that 8 Congress-JD(S) MLAs are in New Delhi and not in Hyderabad where the remaining were taken in three buses.

As per sources, five Karnataka MLAs belonging to the Congress party are in Delhi and so are three JD(S) MLAs. They will reportedly go back to Bengaluru on Saturday aboard a special flight. Accordingly, sources have indicated that there are not more than 65 Congress MLAs with the group in Hyderabad.

Another Congress MLA, Anand Singh, who the party claimed had been abducted, is in New Delhi and has met with the BJP, sources added.

Meanwhile, as per sources, the contenders for the pro tem speaker, who has to be appointed before the floor test, are RV Deshpande who is an 8-term Congress MLA and Umesh Kutti who is a 7-term BJP MLA. The pro tem speaker will get to vote in case of a tie.

Earlier on Friday while hearing the Congress-JD(S) plea against the Karnataka Governor inviting Yeddyurappa to form a government, the Supreme Court had seen the letter sent by Yeddyurappa to the Governor and observed that the names of the MLAs supporting his majority claim weren't mentioned , unlike in the case of the Congress-JD(S)' claim letter. However, the government's representation alleged that the names in the latter list had simply been downloaded from the Election Commission's website and the signatures were missing or had been forged.

While the apex court ordered the floor test for Saturday, it will also continue hearing over the primary matter in the petition, i.e. over the Governor's invitation to Yeddyurappa, in ten weeks. 

After the floor test being ordered, both sides have claimed that they have the required majority.