JDS to play kingmaker again? Here are 5 possible scenarios that may happen

Karnataka is heading for a hung assembly again with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress being close contenders and HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular likely to play kingmaker.

Several pollsters predicted that the Congress may have an edge in Karnataka, which is BJP's southern citadel, in a hung assembly with a couple of them even projecting that the grand old party may get a majority on its own. Both Congress and the BJP have rejected the exit poll claiming that they will win the election and form the government.

Here are the the five possible scenario you must know ahead of the May 13 Assembly results.

Congress wrests power

Several exit polls have predicted that Congress will emerge as the single-largest party but may fail to reach the majority mark of 113 in the 224-member Assembly.

If Congress wins by a slender margin, such a scenario would work in favour of D.K. Shivakumar, who is known as the troubleshooter for the party. He will be able to use the opportunity to his advantage in the race to become the chief minister.

If Congress registers a landslide victory, then there are chances that Siddaramaih will become the chief minister as he has wide popularity among the party workers.

BJP returns to power

Asianet Suvarna News 24x7 and Jan Ki Baat have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is most likely to form the next government in Karnataka. In that case, the BJP may script history by retaining power in Karnataka beating the anti-incumbency factor. The party has made an all-out effort in its election campaigning.

JDS plays kingmaker

Five out of 10 exit polls indicated that the JDS may play the role of the kingmaker again. The major exit polls are predicting 14-33 seats for the JDS.

Since the time of its formation in 1999, JDS has never formed a government on its own, but had been in power twice in coalition with both national parties -- for 20 months with BJP from February 2006 and with Congress for 14 months after the May 2018 Assembly polls- with Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister.

JDS signs pact with Congress

In case of a hung assembly, JDS will have to make an alliance with the Congress to form a government in Karnataka.

It must be noted that during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly Elections, the JDS emerged as the kingmaker by securing 37 seats. After forming a post-poll coalition with the Congress, JDS leader H.D Kumaraswamy was appointed as the Chief Minister.

However, this time, both Congress and JDS have ruled out a post-poll alliance in case of a hung assembly.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar stated that there was no question of an alliance with JDS to form the government as Congress will have the numbers.

JDS signs pact with BJP

Another scenario is JDS will have to make a pact with BJP as it did in the 2006 Assembly polls. The regional party got 58 seats and formed a coalition government with the BJP, the first stint in power for the saffron party in Karnataka.

Exodus likely from JDS

If the JDS fails to make an alliance with national parties like BJP and Congress, the party may face a series of exodus in the event of a hung assembly.

Will the BJP win or the Congress wrests the power from the saffron party in Karnataka Assembly in 2023? Or will the JDS play the role of a kingmaker again? Which way will the voters swing? All eyes would be on May 13, the day when the votes will be counted.