As BJP falls short of majority, three Union ministers rush to Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 15

As the Congress offered support to the Janata Dal (Secular), even though trends showed Bharatiya Janata Party in the lead in a dramatic turn of events in Karnataka assembly elections, a flustered saffron party sent three of its ministers to Bengaluru on Tuesday. 

Three union ministers—JP Nadda, Prakash Javadekar and Dharmender Pradhan—were sent from Delhi as Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad announced they were going to support JD (S) to form government. 

Results and leads showed BJP in the lead with 104 seats, Congress with 78 and JD (S) with 37 seats, a distant third. Elections were held for 222 of 224 assembly seats on Saturday.

Any party or grouping will need 113 of the total 224 seats to secure a majority in the Assembly.

The Janata Dal-Secular of former prime minister HD Dewe Gowda was leading in 39 seats, while ally BSP won 1 seat.

Analysts said the BJP was leading in Lingayat-dominated seats and the JD-S in Vokkaliga-dominated areas. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah won Badami constituency, but lost Chamundeshwari.

However, even as BJP celebrated, Congress offered to support a JD-S government in the state, despite the trends.

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”.

Details of the deal will be hammered out later, Congress leaders said.

The JD (S) confirmed the development, and said they were doing “everything to keep the BJP out of power”.

JD(S) had always maintained that HD Kumaraswamy will be CM. Congress has extended its support, we have accepted it. We will jointly go to meet Governor after 5.30 pm today,” JD (S) leader Danish Ali said.

Prakash Javadekar, who was in charge of the BJP in Karnataka, met national president Amit Shah on earlier Tuesday. 

BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa refused to comment on the developments.

"Shortly we will be knowing the final figures, then we'll decide the future plan. I don't want to talk about Congress or JD(S)." — Agencies