(Image source from: sakshi.com)

Bengaluru:
A high dramatic poll mandate on Tuesday, where election fortunes of all three main contenders in the fray, incumbent Congress, main rival BJP and regional powerhouse JD(S) see to the end of enmity with former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Sonia Gandhi as they agree to form a government to keep BJP out. But the game may not be over as BJP also staked claim. The party has expressed confidence, with PM Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah claiming that it had won majority and would not let down voters of Karnataka.

In a surprising turn of uncertain political stunts, Indian National Congress committee, moved swiftly to offer unanimous support and the post of Chief Minister to JD(S) after it became manifest that it was in no position to retain office. So, having slipped off to 78 seats after losing more than 40 seats it had held, Congress offered unconditional support to JD (S), which won 38. Their tally of 116 seats is ahead of the simple majority of 112. BJP also stepped into action plan, dispatching active central ministers Prakash Javadekar, Dharmendra Pradhan and J P Nadda to Bengaluru to consult CM-nominee B S Yeddyurappa and other state leaders on options that could include getting support of MLAs from the rival camp to absent themselves or vote for BJP in defiance of party whips. This would bring down the mark required for a simple majority.

These happenings would not be as easy task for BJP, but it is probing discontent in Congress ranks over the likely elevation of Kumaraswamy while also exploring loop holes in JD (S), renewing speculation of a repeat of "Operation Lotus" that the party has undertook to gain numbers after forming a government in 2008.

Congress leaders said they would work to ensure that such plans do not work and are looking to secure their members.

The last action has conclusively shifted to Raj Bhavan, where Governor Vajubhai Vala, a former RSS functionary and Modi's past cabinet colleague in Gujarat, holds all the cards.

His key decision on who to invite first to form the government for a floor test will set the tone for events to follow.

The uncertain results landed in a disappointment for all three main players.

Earlier on Tuesday it seemed certain that BJP would form a government on its own as it raced to 118 clear leads. Later its strength stalled and it halted at 104. BJP had hoped that Shah's poll management combined with Modi's highly successful onset before polls would do the trick.

By Lokesh