Raipur, May 17: In his first public address after the election results in Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Centre of "attempting to subvert democracy" in India.

In a veiled attack on Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, who hails from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Gandhi scion said the government is deliberately intruding those from the RSS background into our top institutions.

"RSS is making way into all institutions in the country. Such things happen in Pakistan and other autocratic countries," Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress has charged the Governor of "constitutional impropriety" for inviting the BJP to form the government, despite it lacking the majority figure by eight legislators.  On the other hand, the JD(S)-Congress combine, which had the support of 117 MLAs, was given a skip.

"The Indian democracy works on the principle of legislative democracy. Despite the Congress and JD(S) submitting the required numbers, the Governor has not acted in accordance with his charge," the Congress chief said.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader and six-time Shikaripura MLA BS Yeddyurappa was sworn-in as the 23rd Chief Minister of the state.

His oath-taking ceremony, however, came only after a midnight hearing in the Supreme Court. The Congress had petitioned the top court late on Monday, seeking an interim stay on Yeddyurappa's hearing. The three-judge bench agreed to hear the matter at 1:45 am in the night.

After nearly three hours of proceedings, the bench decided not to stay the swearing-in of Yeddyurappa. The matter, however, has not been dismissed and is scheduled to be heard next on Friday.

While Yeddyurappa was sworn-in in as the lone Minister of the government today, the entire Cabinet would take oath within a span of 15 days. The Governor, in his letter to Yeddyurappa on Wednesday, provided him a fortnight-period to prove his majority in the Assembly through a floor-test.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 17, 2018 12:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).