Karnataka poll verdict: Kumaraswamy to be CM? Big setback for BJP as Congress outwits it despite losing

Within hours after the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018 results trends showing that no party is going to get a majority, the Congress has rushed to start negotiations with the JDS-led by former prime minister Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy. While BJP has emerged as the largest single party as it is leading in 105 seats to Congress' 76 and JDS' 39, the Rahul Gandhi led party has now offered the smallest party of the three the chief minister's post, thereby effectively raining on BJP's parade. Congress is looking to do to BJP what the saffron party had done to it in wake of Goa polls. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy are set to head to Governor's house and stake a claim at 5.30 pm. This was according to a letter Kumaraswamy wrote to the Governor, NDTV reported. 

"JDS had always maintained that HD Kumaraswamy will be CM. As per results, we're doing everything to keep BJP out of power. Congress has extended its support, we have accepted it. We will jointly go to meet Governor after 5.30 pm today," said Danish Ali of JDS. On whether there will be a Congress deputy chief minister, the JDS spokesperson said that that situation would be acceptable to it.

According to sources, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi spoke to former PM and JDS chief Deve Gowda. She has apparently offered the chief minister's post to the JDS. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad  has confirmed the development in a Twitter post that his party has opened negotiations with the JDS. Azad said in his post that, "We had a telephonic conversation with Deve Gowda ji & (H D) Kumaraswamy. They have accepted our offer. Hopefully, we will be together."  "We (Congress and JDS) are jointly meeting the Governor in the evening today," Congress leader KC Venugopal told media.

"JDS had always maintained that HD Kumaraswamy will be CM. As per results, we're doing everything to keep BJP out of power. Congress has extended its support, we have accepted it. We will jointly go to meet Governor after 5.30 pm today," JDS leader Danish
Ali said in a Twitter post.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after a meeting with central Congress leaders told reporters  that the party will back the JDS to form government. Since the negotiations are still in the early stage, it was not yet clear whether the Congress will play an active part in the government or give support from outside. If the number of seats the two parties win, then they could together have 115 seats, three more than the the halfway mark of 112.