The JD(S) has been building the momentum for the break-up for the last few weeks, accusing the partner of “humiliating” Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and coming down heavily on the party for its “failure” to end “the character assassination campaign” by some BJP leaders.

Meanwhile, in what could be an indication of one course of action that could be pursued to keep Kumaraswamy in power, a group of seven MLAs from fringe parties and independents said they would gather support for him from all MLAs opposed to an early election.

“We will generate support of all MLAs opposed to an immediate election and we will try to prevent an immediate election,” Vatal Nagaraj from the Kannada Chaluvali (Vatal) Paksha told reporters.

A simple majority of 113 seats is needed in the 224-member Assembly for anyone to stake claim to power. At present the BJP has 78, the Congress 66, the JD(S) 57, including 10 dissidents, the JD(U) has five, the CPI (M), the Republican Party of India and Vatal Paksha have one seat each and there are 13 Independents.

The Congress Legislature Party headed by former CM Dharam Singh held a meeting on Saturday to figure out party’s strategy. The party has decided to wait for the BJP to officially withdraw support to decide on its next course of action, Dharam Singh said after the meeting. A section of senior leaders like Singh and state party President Malikarjun Kharge are in favour of Gowda while others like former JD(S) leader Siddaramaiah and the S M Krishna faction is opposed to the idea of any new truck with Gowda especially after the 2004-2006 experience.