Karnataka Elections 2018: Congress tries to woo JD (S), to propose a 'Compromise CM', claim sources

Even as the early leads of Karnataka votes counting depict a nail biting contest with a neck and neck fight between the BJP getting edge and JD (S) slowly climbing up, Congress sources have told Republic TV the party will do anything to woo the Janata Dal (Secular) or JDS. The Congress sources said the party will do anything to defeat and stop the BJP to expand its footprint in the southern state.

The Congress sources have also said the party could pitch the names of  G Parameshwara, the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and Mallikarjun Kharge to the JD (S) as the party believes HD Devegowda, senior JD (S) leader will insist on a chief ministerial face other than Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah and Devegowda share a strained relationship.

Devegowda has reportedly asked for a candidate from a non-dominant caste, no Vokkaliga, Dalits or Lingayats. He reportedly wants a docile leader like Dharam Singh.

Almost all the pollsters have claimed the JD(S) could be the potential kingmaker as they believe neither Congress nor the BJP would get a clear majority in the Karnataka assembly elections.

Meanwhile, all top Karnataka Congress leaders are in Bengaluru charting out a poll strategy.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge while speaking on the coalition speculations with the JD (S) said “the coalition talks will be decided post 11 am.”

READ| Karnataka Elections 2018: JD (S) Open To Talks With Both Congress And BJP?

Earlier on May 13, after the buzz around JD (S) working President Kumaraswamy’s Singapore visit, sources have told Republic TV that Janata Dal (Secular) is open for negotiations to both the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This is crucial as earlier it was being speculated that JD (S) is close to talks with the Congress, however, as per the recently accessed information, the party is considering a negotiation with Congress minus Siddaramaiah.

Sources had also told Republic TV, if Devegowda and Kumaraswamy have their way, Karnataka will not be seeing Siddaramaiah or Yeddyurappa (BJP’s CM candidate) as the Chief Minister as JD (S) will not be open to talks with the BJP if it chooses Yeddyurappa as its face in the state.

The JD(S) doesn’t want both Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa to be in the fray given its checkered past with both of them.