On Thursday, Prakash’s residence at Kumara Park was a beehive of activity. He had two important and unexpected visitors  – H D Revanna and N Cheluvarayaswamy. In the morning, he had a call from party’s national president H D Deve Gowda and in the evening it was the turn of  State president Merajuddin Patel to contact him.
The reason: Prakash has now taken the political centre stage, with almost all disgruntled MLAs unofficially authorising him to hammer out a deal with the Congress to form a government. Around 40 JD(S) legislators are understood to have have told Prakash to even distance himself from Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda, if necessary, to align with the Congress. Five other MLAs have also extended their support to Prakash. Sources said leaders of both JD(S) Prakash group and the Congress are already in touch with each other. But Congress leaders are tight-lipped. In fact, it has been the party high command’s strategy to avoid any loss of face, if things don’t work out.

“The high command will enter the scene the day a clear picture emerges,” sources added.Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who is expected in the City on Friday to participate in a function, may interact with the state leaders regarding the political developments. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil is also expected. 

The Congress sources said, “It is not important as to who would head the coalition government. We want to avoid elections and ensure that the BJP does not come to power encashing on the sympathy factor. We would like to give a good budget and then go for elections”, said a Congress leader.

Prakash said a majority of MLAs were not in favour of polls and a decision on the future course of action would be taken at the JDSLP meeting convened on October 15.

 The Prakash-led faction, sources said, is making a last ditch effort to avoid splitting the party. It has served an “ultimatum” to Gowda and sons to “either join hands with us or face the consequences.” Sources said in case Gowda and sons don’t agree, the MLAs may identify themselves as a separate group in the Assembly. So far, the Congress has not contacted the Prakash group. 

Gowda watching
As far as Gowda is concerned, sources said, he has been eager to renew friendship with the Congress. “He may enter the scene and take the driver’s seat at a point when two factions sit across the table to share power,” said a senior party leader.

In fact, Gowda had sent his trusted son Revanna to meet Prakash on Thursday. Revanna is learnt to have indirectly conveyed the message that his father has no objection to his initiatives. Prakash is also keeping Gowda informed about the developments.

The opposition, if any, may come from  Kumaraswamy, who is bent upon going to the polls as feels that he has earned a good image as CM and that would help in the elections.  He, in turn, had sent his lieutenant Chaluvarayaswamy to Prakash to convince him to drop the idea of going with the Congress.