Coalition again? Cong offers ‘full support’ to JD(S)

With Karnataka heading toward a hung assembly, the Congress made the first move by offering “full support” to the JD(S) to form a government on Tuesday.

As on 3 pm, the BJP is leading in 104 seats followed by the Congress in 76 and the JD(S) in 39. Polling was held for 222 out of 224 Assembly seats, and the magic number to form the government is 112.

“We have had a telephonic talk with JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda and state president H D Kumaraswamy. They have accepted it. Whosoever they decide will head the government. We will go to the Governor this evening. As trends go, our numbers are higher than that of the BJP,” senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.

The BJP, however, did not disclose its next move. “Final results are yet to be known. Once the exact figures are known, we will work out the future plan. I’ll discuss with our national leaders and get back,” BJP state president and chief ministerial face B S Yeddyurappa told reporters.

According to sources, the Congress has offered to make Kumaraswamy the chief minister. “Our decision is to support the JD(S). The JD(S) will form the government. It’s for them to decide who the chief minister will be,” outgoing Congress’ chief minister Siddaramaiah told reporters.

This could be a repeat of 2004 when the Congress and the JD(S) came together to form a coalition government in the backdrop of a hung assembly. Back then, the BJP had emerged as the largest party with 79 seats.