Hung assembly? Congress devises Operation Hasta to foil BJP’s Lotus

BENGALURU: With most exit polls on Wednesday predicting a hung assembly in Karnataka, the two main parties have already begun manoeuvring and manipulation to try and ensure they have the numbers to form the next government.
The principal opposition, Congress, has devised “Operation Hasta (Kannada for hand)” to counter BJP’s “Operation Lotus” if the saffron party tries to induce its MLAs to defect to reach the magic number (113 in a 224-member House).
JD(S), projected to emerge as the third entity this time, too, is more cautious and is formulating a strategy to keep its flock together even while it monitors BJP’s and Congress’s moves. The regional outfit expects a 2018-like situation and is looking to align with either of the two national parties. But its biggest endeavour is to prevent an exodus of newly elected MLAs.
“The two national parties will definitely try to break our party as they will not get the required numbers to form government,” said JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy. “While we are cautious and are taking measures to keep our flock together, we will also ensure no party will be able to form government without our help.”
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge told TOI that BJP would try to break his party if Congress gets anything less than 150 seats. But Congress, too, has drawn up strategy to muster the required numbers in case of a fractured verdict. Senior functionaries say talks are already on with potential winners from BJP and JD(S).