Bangalore: Congress and JD-S in Talks with its Rebels
Press Trust of India
Bangalore, May 26: As the BJP voiced optimism in getting the required support of Independents for a majority, rivals Congress and the JDS opened talks with them amid indications that any attempt to stall government formation in Karnataka may not succeed.
The BJP has already established contact with the six Independents, four of whom are Congress rebels. The remaining two are rebels of BJP and the JDS.
The State Congress has held informal discussions with four of its rebels, according to a senior party leader who did not want to be quoted.
"We have asked them to come for talks. Let us see", the leader said.
The Congress leaders in the state claim they have received no particular instructions from its high command on the future moves of the party.
JDS leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he has spoken to four of the Congress rebels requesting them not to support BJP which is three short of a majority.
In another development two of the victorious Congress rebels -- Narendraswamy and Varthur Prakash-- met former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
Both of them declared they would go by the decision taken by Siddaramaiah, sources close to the leader told PTI.
In the case of BJP, party leaders claim they are assured of support by its rebel in Kankagiri Shivaraj Thangadi.
The saffron party is making efforts to get the backing of the four Congress rebels -- Narendra Swamy, Varthur Prakash, Venkataramanappa and Sudharakar.
Another Independent Goolihatti Shekhar is a JDS rebel.
BJP leaders said the party faced no problem in enlisting the support of independents.
Congress has won 80 seats while JDS bagged 28.
Meanwhile, JDS chief H D Deve Gowda took stock of the party's poll debacle at a meeting held at his residence.
It was attended by Kumaraswamy, his brother H D Revanna, Jamir Ahmed Khan, elected from Chamarajpet and party spokesman Y S V Datta, who lost in Kadur.