New Delhi: With no party touching 112 magic figure to form next government in Karnataka, behind the scene political activity of the BJP and the Congress in Bengaluru and New Delhi has begun.
The BJP, as the single largest party with 106 seats, has staked claim to form a government. But the Congress, while playing a deft political card, has offered support to the JD(S) for government formation to keep the saffron party out of the power in the southern state.
“We accept the mandate of the people. We bow our heads to the verdict. We don’t have numbers to form a government. The Congress has offered to support the JD(S) to form a government,” Karnataka Congress leader G Parameshwara told media persons after meeting the central Congress leaders.
Flanked by senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara announced that the outgoing chief minister will meet with Governor Vajubhai Vala on Tuesday and stake claim to form the government as the possibility of a hung assembly looms large.
As the final figures trickled in and it became apparent that the BJP might not cross the halfway mark, Congress leaders quickly got in touch with the JD(S) of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and his son and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.
“We had a telephonic conversation with Deve Gowda ji and Kumaraswamy. They have accepted our offer. Hopefully, we will be together,” Azad said.
