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Confident Congress maintains vigil as BJP leaders talk of ‘Operation’, eyes on independents

Congress leans on district-wise in-charges to move winning candidates from 3 pm onwards on 13 May for legislative party meet in Bengaluru.

BySouth First Desk

Published May 12, 2023 | 8:05 PM ⚊UpdatedMay 12, 2023 | 8:05 PM

Siddaramaiah, Basavaraj Bommai.

With BJP leaders like R Ashok boasting of conducting an “Operation” — insinuating ‘Operation Lotus’, BJP’s infamous strategy to facilitate defections of legislators from other parties — the Congress in Karnataka has taken measures to keep its flock together.

On Friday, 12 May, R Ashok said BJP would get a simple majority but in the case it falls short, the party had a “plan B”.

“We have to carry out the operation and do some groundwork,” Ashok told reporters, referring to the strategy the BJP has resorted to in the past to come to power.

South First Karnataka Exit Poll: Congress could cross halfway mark

Congress keeping its flock together

Although Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai distanced himself from Ashok’s statement and insisted that the BJP would get a majority on its own, the Congress — confident of getting a simple majority — is moving ahead to keep its flock together.

“By 3 pm tomorrow our candidates will come to Bengaluru and in-charges have been given district-wise responsibility. When a BJP minister brazenly claims that they have no respect for people’s mandate and will resort to undemocratic methods to steal the mandate, we have to keep our flock together,” a senior Congress leader told South First.

The party is moving its winning candidates to facilitate a legislative party meeting.

Even as the BJP and the JD(S) leaders are talking about alliances, a confident Congress has remained unfazed by the discussion.

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‘Will not approach JD(S)’

“We have decided not to approach the JD(S) because we will get a majority on our own. There will be no need for an alliance or outside support,” a senior leader of the Congress said.

Sources from the party, however, suggested that efforts were on to keep a close watch on independents who are likely to win from 3-4 constituencies.

While JD(S)’ HD Kumaraswamy indicated that he was open to an alliance with either the BJP or the Congress based on the fulfilment of his conditions, BJP leaders met at former chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s residence on Friday to prepare for the counting day (13 May) for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2023.

The Congress, on the other hand, is looking to sail through the halfway mark comfortably with several exit polls to give the party the edge.

Congress leaders believe the party would win at least 108 seats and is placed favourably in another 20 seats.