VIDHAN SOUDHA
Bengaluru, May 16: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which emerged the single largest party in the May 12 elections, staked claim on Tuesday to form the government in Karnataka.
Janata Dal (Secular)- Indian National Congress combine followed suit to Raj Bhavan to impress upon Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to invite them to form the government based on their numerical strength .
BJP was pushed back to end up with 104, nine short of the magic number. The party, which had won 93 seats, was leading in 11 and would end up with a final tally of 104 MLAs.
The Congress, in the afternoon, decided to support the Janata Dal (Secular) in government formation and dashed off a letter to former Prime Minister and JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda extending its unconditional support.
Led by outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the new allies met the Governor along with JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy and staked claim to form the new dispensation.
Mr Siddaramaiah told media that the JD(S)-Congress combine had the numbers to form the government. The JD(S) had a final tally of 38, including one secured by its alliance partner Bahujan Samaj Party, while the Congress party was expected to end up with 78 seats. It had won 73 and was leading in five. Two other Independents won and Congress affirmed that they were supporting the JD(S)-Congress alliance.
With the ball in the court of the Raj Bhavan, Governor Vala told both the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) that he would arrive at a decision after the Election Commission declared the final results.
