Karnataka Polls Results: Big blow to Congress Leaders

Bengaluru, May 15: As the major political parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Janata Dal(Secular) vie for power in Karnataka, the focus has turned to Governor Vajubhai Vala.

Vala, an old BJP hand who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has put all appointments on hold till all results are out.

According to media, Vala did not meet a Congress delegation which went to Raj Bhavan. By simply granting his time to one party, Vala can affect the overall outcome of a fiercely contested election as the crucial time between declaration of results and a party staking claim can make or break governments.

With the BJP falling short of the halfway majority mark in Karnataka Assembly elections, speculation is rife that the Congress is attempting to reach an understanding with Janata Dal (Secular).

The Congress, which has been accusing JD(S) of working tacitly with the BJP, reached out to the party and offered the chief minister's seat to HD Kumaraswamy in return for keeping the BJP out of power.

Addressing the reporters minutes after trends suggested that BJP is falling short of a clear majority, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad announced that the HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy accepted their offer during a telephonic conversation and the two parties' leaders will meet in the evening.

Meanwhile, certain sections of the media also claimed that the BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP has made a counteroffer to the JD(S).