It is all in the numbers in Karnataka. Notwithstanding the stand taken by Janata Dal (S) leader M P Prakash not to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Kumaraswamy faction says that it has the numbers to form the government.
The faction, backed by the party leader H D Deve Gowda, says it has 45 MLAs on its side, which is sufficient to form the government with the BJP, which has 79 seats in the 226-member house.
The Kumaraswamy faction, which is holed up in a resort on the outskirts of Bangalore, says that Prakash's claim of having 20 MLAs on his side is "false". They, however, maintain that they are for a truce with Prakash and don't want him to split the party. They feel that Prakash is letting himself be used by the Congress.
The Kumaraswamy faction says that it is hopeful of forming the government and also adds that they are expected to get an invitation by Governor by Monday evening. Both the JD (S) and the BJP are expected to parade their MLAs at the Raj Bhavan later in the evening.
A former MLA, who is at the resort told rediff.com, that a resort is a place where people usually relax, but situation there is "tense". Though all are hopeful that the government will be formed, there is still an element of doubt of what Governor Rameshwar Thakur would do.
Legislators are also closely watching every move made by M P Prakash, who has an appointment with the governor at 2.30pm. Though nobody knows what Prakash has in store, many feel that he will try and convince the governor not to invite the BJP to form the government.
The Kumaraswamy faction says Prakash does not have the numbers to form a government with the Congress. The MLAs say that they are sure that the governor will act in accordance with the law and invite the BJP to form the government.
Soon after, Prakash meets the governor, the BJP will take out a march to the Raj Bhavan, urging the governor to invite them to form the government. Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who is in Karnataka, said after a meeting with the governor on Sunday that he was sure that BJP would be invited to form the government.
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