Coalition model: Cong for Maharashtra, JD(S) for J-K

The JD(S), he said, has been demanding that the Congress agree for a Jammu and Kashmir model coalition, where the Congress despite being the single largest party consented to give the chief minister’s post to the PDP.

In the fractured verdict given by the electorate in Karnataka, BJP with 79 seats has emerged as the single largest party. The Congress has 65 seats and JD(S) 58. But with no party staking claim to form a government, Governor T.N. Chaturvedi has invited KPCC chief B. Janardhan Poojary, JD(S) legislature party leader Siddaramaiah and BJP state unit chief Ananth Kumar for discussions tomorrow.

The JD(S) today nominated Siddaramaiah as its legislature party leader and chief ministerial candidate. Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda will meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi after the swearing-in on Wednesday to chalk out the modalities for a ‘‘workable government’’ in the state, senior party leader P.G.R Sindhis said. Leaders believe a government will be in place by the weekend. Gowda left for Tirupati today, on the eve of his 72nd birthday.

The BJP, out of the picture with the JD(S) refusing support, called the Congress-JD(S) combine a ‘‘marriage of contradictions…will not last long, leading to another election in the state’’. Krishna today hit out at the BJP, saying the party should have staked claim. ‘‘They (BJP) have emerged as the single largest party, let them show the courage of staking claim and form the government,’’ Krishna said.