In a surprise twist, Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, is likely to form the government in alliance with the Congress in Karnataka. Congress extended its support to Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal Secular (JDS) and agreed to Kumaraswamy becoming the next Chief Minister.
Till 4.30 pm, BJP led in 105 seats, seven short of clear majority, Congress and JDS were leading 78 and 37 seats respectively with their combined tally past the 112-mark required to form the government.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the party leaders had spoken with Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy and they had agreed. The Congress was ready to accept whoever JDS decided would head the government.
Earlier in the day, it seemed just a matter of time before the BJP secured clear majority in the 224-seat state. But as the day progressed and BJP lost few crucial seats, the Congress and JDS worked out an alliance together, coming back in the race strongly.
In a quick turn of events, Congress discussed with JDS the conditions of forming the government. JDS, not interested in “religious” politics in Karnataka accepted the proposal from the Congress. If the plan works out till the end, the BJP will have to digest its own method of capturing government without winning clear majority.
As the exit-poll results had indicated, Deve Gowda actually turned out to be the king-maker in the state.
Congress’ Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, had split from the JDS over a decade ago and they are not on particularly good terms. However, with the Congress unable to form a government because of its inability to obtain clear majority, the party was willing to sacrifice SIddharamaiah to work out this alliance.
Elections are scheduled later this year in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh before the Lok Sabha elections are held in the country in 2019.
