Karnataka polls: Cong asks ‘leading’ candidates to reach Bengaluru

BENGALURU — Taking no chances with the operation lotus of BJP in Karnataka, the Congress has directed the candidates to reach Bengaluru and stay at a particular place until the government is formed.

The precautionary move comes ahead of the counting day (May 13).

The exit polls have predicted a hung Assembly but the BJP and Congress are claiming they will win a comfortable majority. Both parties are ready for poaching of MLAs to grab the seat of power, according to sources.

BJP is known as an expert in poaching of MLAs. The Congress is all set for a reverse operation to counter the BJP strategy. The Congress leaders, not ruling out the possibility of close contest, have taken precautionary measures to protect the party candidates.

Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, state In-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah held virtual meetings with all candidates on Thursday night and spoke to them in detail on how they should not become victims of operation lotus.

The leaders have told candidates that this time the Congress is going to get an opportunity to form the government and they should not give in to the lures. The candidates have been asked to reach Bengaluru as soon as they start getting leads and sure of their victory.

The candidates have also been asked to stay at a particular place until the government is formed, the sources explained.

JD(S) to play the kingmaker’s role in Karnataka

With the possibility of a hung Assembly looming large over Karnataka, the JD(S) can play the kingmaker’s role in the state.

Hopeful of winning over 30 seats in the Assembly polls, sources in JD(S) said on Thursday that party leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is now not only going to be the ‘kingmaker’, but is also set to become the ‘king’.

During poll campaigning, Kumaraswamy had claimed that both the national parties — BJP and Congress — will have to come to his doors after the elections.

Sources revealed that after getting reports from the party workers on ground, Kumaraswamy boarded a flight to Singapore and is handling the negotiations from there with the national parties.

They further claimed that the JD(S) has “decided to go with the Congress as per the wishes of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, and his son Kumaraswamy will become the Chief Minister”.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, the bete noire of the Gowda family, will bear the brunt of the alliance as there are all possibilities of JD(S) honchos asking the Congress to keep him at bay.

JD(S) national spokesperson Tanveer Ahmad said that both national parties – Congress and BJP – are “trying to reach out” to his party for forging a post-poll alliance.

“Both the national parties are definitely trying to reach out to us… We will take a decision at an appropriate time. Right now, I can tell you that we will take a decision for the betterment of Karnataka,” Ahmad told IANS.

The 89-year-old Deve Gowda, during campaigning, toured the entire state, attended public rallies, gave speeches and appealed to the people that he wants to see his son on the seat of power for the last time. The emotional appeal to the Vokkaliga masses seems to be working for JD(S).

Kumaraswamy, who had undergone heart surgery, also toured all across the state for hectic campaigning. He was hospitalised for two days during the campaigning due fatigue and other ailments.

It is, however, to be seen how things shape up on May 13, when the results will be declared.

The BJP is claiming that all exit poll predictions had fallen flat before and no survey could foresee the victories achieved by the BJP.