Even as the formation of the Karnataka government is delayed in the wake of developments in New Delhi, Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday stepped up pressure on the Congress to give up its claim to the post of chief minister and urged the party to evolve a new model for Karnataka.JD(S), which has decided to form a government with Congress help, has already projected state chief Siddaramaiah as its chief ministerial candidate, while the Congress is firm that the next CM should be from their party.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, senior party leader M.P.Prakash said the people have rejected the Congress in the elections. ‘‘Congress should sacrifice and climb down,’’ he said, adding that the refusal of the Congress to make way for JD(S) will only delay the government formation.‘‘If the Congress refused to climb down, it will further delay the formation of government. The JD(S) would convene its legislature party meeting to decide the future course of action,’’ he said.Saying that it was not fair to thrust one more election on the people of Karnataka, Prakash expressed the need to arrive at a consensus and evolve a new formula that is unique for the state instead of those in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.Meanwhile, former PM and JD (S) chief H.D. Deve Gowda left for New Delhi after it became clear the Manmohan Singh would be the next Prime Minister.During his stay in New Delhi, Gowda is likely to lobby for the chief minister’s post for his party. According to party sources, the former PM is relying on CPI(M) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet to make a breakthrough in the formation of the next government.
