Bengaluru: Accepting the people's fractured mandate, the Congress on Tuesday decided to extend support to the Janata Dal (Secular) to form the next government in Karnataka with the BJP after an initial flourish was nine short of achieving a simple majority as counting was progress for the 15th State Assembly.
The BJP is likely to finish as the largest party with 104 seats with the party already winning 57 seats and leading in 47 others. The final Congress tally is likely to be 77 with the party already winning 30 seats and leading in 47 others. The JD (S) had won eleven seats and was leading in 27 others and would finish with a tally of 38 seats. The BSP, alliance partner of the JD(S) was leading in one constituency while an independent was also on the lead with Karnataka Pragnavantha Janata Party winning one.
Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Ghelot who flew from New Delhi had a meeting with senior State leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC President G Parameshwara and Party Leader in the Lok Sabha later told newsmen that they had spoken to former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H D Devegowda and JD(S) State President H D Kumaraswamy and extended support to them to form the government.
Together they would call on the Governor this evening to convey the decision to him, Mr Azad told newsmen.Thanking the people for their mandate, BJP Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa declined to comment stating that the party would wait for the final results. He said he would consult senior Party leaders.Mr Yeddyurappa said he was not concerned with the decision of either the Congress or the JD(S).(UNI)
