JD-S says Kumaraswamy will be next Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy will be the party's candidate for the Karnataka Chief Minister's post, it announced on Tuesday after finishing third in the Assembly and getting the backing of the Congress.

"It is crystal clear that it will be Kumaraswamy for the Chief Minister's post. With the blessings of the people of Karnataka, he will be the Chief Minister," JD-S spokesperson Danish Ali told a news channel.

Asked if Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Valal can invite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which emerged as the single largest party to form the government, he said: "How can (Governor call the BJP) when majority is there with the two parties?

"In Meghalaya, they didn't invite the single largest party," he said.

Asked if the post of Deputy Chief Minister will be offered to the Congress, Ali said the party will ask the Congress to join the government.

"All those details will be discussed later on. Both the parties have come together and we will provide a stable government," he said.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad earlier said it would back the JD-S to form the government following a hung Assembly.