“An alliance is possible if the Congress responds. We are ready to support if the Congress makes up its mind to form a Government...The ball is in the Congress’ court,” Prakash told reporters in Bangalore on Friday.

He cited pressure from MLAs, not only of the JD (S) but across all political parties, as the reason for his hopes. “MLAs from across the parties want to avoid going to polls at this juncture. This being the case, a tie-up can be a possibility,” Prakash, who had recently done an aborted attempt to woo the Congress for an alliance, stated.

Both - Congress high command and JD (S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda, on their part, have not shown any interest in forming a coalition. Instead, both have favoured elections. Gowda in fact went a step further and advised the disgruntled MLAs of his party to not to lose heart, as “nothing wrong has happened to the party’s image after withdrawing support to the BJP.”

Close-door meeting
Gowda also held a close-door meeting with Prakash at his residence on Friday. Sources said he advised Prakash not to take too much trouble in wooing the Congress party.

Nevertheless, many JD (S) MLAs have continued to pressurise Prakash to hold talks with the Congress. MLAs are claiming that nearly 43 of them are with Prakash insisting on forging an alliance.

Sources in the JD (S) have a different take on the developments. They see Prakash’s efforts as just an eyewash exercise to keep the party MLAs together. “Prakash is just acting as per Gowda’s instructions. He (Prakash) is a matured politician, and he knows full well that his efforts are unlikely to materialise. All these dramas will go on till the Assembly is dissolved by the Parliament,” sources claimed.

Meanwhile, speculations are rife that some of the JD (S) MLAs, including N Cheluvarayaswamy, are contemplating to quit the party. These MLAs are learnt to have held a secret meeting with BJP leaders at a private hotel in the City recently. However, Cheluvarayaswamy, when contacted, denied it.

Meeting on Nov 29
To replenish the lost confidence of the party workers after it withdrew the support to the BJP, the JD (S) has convened a meeting of heads of district and taluk level units of the party on November 29 at Palace Grounds.

“The meeting is aimed at chalking out future course of action and to boost the morale of the workers,” the party spokesperson Y S V Datta said.

All leaders of the party, including Gowda, will take part in the meeting.