BJP, Congress start back-channel talks to win over independents in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: After the exit polls predicted a "very close" fight in Rajasthan, both BJP and Congress are bracing for last-minute manoeuvring. While Congress has started contacting winnable independents and party rebels, BJP is connecting with its rebel candidates in case they need their support to cross the halfway mark of 100. That apart, the saffron party has directed all its (would-be) MLAs to collect their certificates and reach Jaipur by Monday.

Elections were held for 199 out of 200 seats in the state as one Congress candidate died during the polls.

A Congress leader said, "We are contacting party rebels and independents as we are quite sure of edging past BJP and forming the government."

Congressmen on Thursday thronged state party president Govind Singh Dotasra's residence to congratulate him even before the results were out.

BJP functionaries, however, expressed confidence that the party would get an absolute majority. BJP's election management committee convenor Narayan Panchariya targeted Congress politicians over their premature celebrations.

Panchariya termed Dotasra's statement about Congress getting an absolute majority as "a misunderstanding", especially in view of the massive voting by the people of the state.