Cong set to do a Goa, offers support to JD (S) govt

New Delhi, May 15

A distant second in Karnataka results, Congress on Tuesday agreed to offer support to the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka to prevent BJP, the single largest party, from staking claim to form the government there.

Congress veteran Ghulam Nabj Azad said: “The Congress has decided to support the JD (S). We have held a talk with both HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy and they have accepted our offer”.

Whether the Congress offers outside support or joins the government is unclear as of now, with former state chief minister Siddharamaiah saying: “We have decided to support the JD (S) and rest of the details will be worked out later”.

The announcement came after Azad, along with colleagues Ashok Gehlot and Siddharamaiah, had a telephonic conversation with the JD (S) leaders as the BJP fell short of a simple majority.

Congress with 76, JD (S) with 39 and BSP with one have 116 lawmakers, more than the simple majority of 113 in a 224-member assembly.

BJP is stuck at 104 with trends still shaping up.

Congress leaders and JD (S) have been in touch since afternoon as elections results presented a cliff-hanger situation with the BJP unable to cross the halfway mark.

Since two seats are yet to witness polls in Karnataka, the effective strength of the assembly is 222 and the simple majority mark is 112.

BJP as per current leads is eight short of the simple majority on its own.

Congress leaders Azad and Gehlot were on Monday deployed in Karnataka to strategise in time and stop the BJP from assuming power in the southern state.

BJP had similarly prevented the Congress from forming governments in Goa and Manipur where the Congress had emerged as the single largest party.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is hoping for sweet revenge in Karnataka with the party offering to support JD (S), which is in alliance with the BSP.

‘Backdoor entry’
In a press briefing held on Tuesday evening, Yeddyurappa accused the Congress of trying to gain a backdoor entry into Karnataka.

“In 2018 elections, the people of Karnataka have rejected the misrule of the Congress and Siddaramaiah and have voted for change. The people have voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and given a mandate a mandate for a Congress-free Karnataka. Anti incumbency is so strong that Siddaramaiah suffered defeat in his own constituency Chamundeshwari,” he said told the press as he thanked the public for the BJP’s mandate.