Karnataka results: Suspense builds on who will form government

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers are in a celebratory mood as trends rill afternoon showed BJP own 68 seats and leading in 39 constituencies. The ruling Congress has won 42 seats and leading in 31 constituencies. HD Deve Gowda's JDS won 20 seats and leading in another 20.

In fact, the BJP needs 111 seats to stake a claim to form the government. Since the elections were held for 222 seats instead of 224 after countermanding of elections in two assemblies, the majority has been reduced to 111 seats.

However, the saffron party is leading in 105 seats by afternoon. The numbers are still oscillating between the BJP and the Congress as still there are 6 to 8 rounds of counting to go till evening. Still final numbers yet to emerge out of the strong room.

According to reports, Congress bigwigs, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, are trying to reach JDS leaders to form a post-poll alliance in the face of imminent defeat.
Earlier, Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that the party is open to an alliance with JD(S) but is at the same time confident of winning the Karnataka assembly election.

The Congress party is ready to offer CM post to former CM HD Kumarswamy. However, as far as alliance is concerned the final call has to be taken by JDS patron former PM HD Deve Gowda.

The alliance between JDS and Congress is not a new development in Karnataka. In 2004, Congress came to power with the support of JDS following a hung verdict. The Karnataka Congress Legislature Party leader, Dharam Singh, was sworn in as the Chief Minister and Siddaramaiah, who was in JDS, sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister.However, the alliance didn't last long.