A political thriller is unravelling in Karnataka and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) and Congress are going to great lengths to ensure that they form the next government in the state.
The BJP, which is the single-largest party, is short of 8 seats to attain the magic number (112), and party insiders say that talks have already begun with several Congress and JD(S) MLAs.
Sources in the Congress say that a senior Congress leader and two independent MLAs are not indifferent towards a plum offer from the BJP.
The BJP high command has also directed Prakash Javadekar to come to Bengaluru to handle the situation.
Party insiders say that they are going to have talks with disgruntled Lingayat MLAs from the Congress who may jump ship with the right incentive.
The fact that a Vokkaliga leader like Kumaraswamy becomes CM may be unacceptable to a few of these MLAs.
However, talks are also on in the Congress about shifting their legislators to resorts in Punjab or Andhra Pradesh.
The BJP is also hoping that the governor would grant permission to them to prove majority on the floor of the House.
(The story was first published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)
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