'Not Reaching Out To Anybody': Kharge on Talks With JDS Ahead Of Karnataka Election Results

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday denied having talks with the JDS amid exit polls indicating that Karnataka is heading for a hung assembly.

Kharge expressed his confidence in his party coming to power with a "thumping majority". However, he stated that Congress will decide its next move based on the numbers. "The numbers will tell us what to do," he said.

"Our party has the strategy of discussing things after meeting each other. If we tell you everything, what would remain?," says Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after a meeting at his residence ahead of Karnataka election results.

He further stated that the Congress is not "reaching out to anybody".

His comments come hours after the JDS leader Tanveer Ahmed claimed that they have already decided which party they would support in forming the government after the results are declared. "We have already decided with whom we are going to form the government. We will announce it to the public when the appropriate time comes," he said.

However, Karnataka JD(S) Chief CM Ibrahim downplayed his comments, stating the party has not decided on the alliance. "We have not decided on an alliance with any party. Tanveer Ahmed is claiming that he is a party spokesperson and told the media that the decision on the alliance is made. Let me clarify that he is not with the JDS anymore, and his comments are baseless. We will wait for tomorrow's result," Ibrahim said.

On the other hand, Jairam Ramesh said that the JDS will be "disintegrate" after the Karnataka assembly election results will be out on Saturday. "I am absolutely sure that JDS will disintegrate... This time I do not think that there is any scope for a coalition government with JDS," said Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications.

He also said that the Congress' victory in Karnataka will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's defeat. "Congress' victory in Karnataka is PM Modi's defeat because no one campaigned in Karnataka except him. After (BJP's) Karnataka's defeat, Delhi's door is open for Congress in 2024," he added.

The single-phase election for 224-member Assembly was held on Wednesday and the counting of votes will be held on Saturday in 36 centres across the state.