BANGALORE, MAY 7 : In the slog overs of the campaign for the first phase of the Karnataka Assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party today tried to woo the Muslims while the Congress declared that it would not go for a coalition in the state.

While Congress chief Sonia Gandhi declared in Tumkur that her party would not “compromise on its principles for power,” a key player in the latest failed coalition experiment in the state, BJP’s Yeddyurappa, made a last-minute attempt to appeal to Muslim voters.

Facing a tough battle against former chief minister S Bangarappa, who is supported by both the Congress and the JDS, in Shikaripura, Yeddyurappa said: “We will induct a member of the minority community into the ministry in the first round of ministry-making, as we are sure to form the government.”

He said at a press conference: “The BJP wanted to give tickets to at least two members from the minority community. But we were not sure of ensuring their victory. Hence they could not be accommodated.”

Angry over the Congress and JDS supporting his rival, Yeddyurappa said both parties should declare Bangarappa as their chief ministerial nominee so that there could be a level playing field in Shikaripura.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal United (JDU), which is contesting 70 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly elections on its own after talks for seat adjustments with its erstwhile ally BJP failed, said that it was keeping its options open for a post-poll alliance.

JDU National President Sharad Yadav said that any question of a post-poll alliance would be decided later by the local unit.

On the future of the BJP-JDU coalition at the Centre following the BJP’s stand of refusing to ally with JDU,he said the issue will be discussed at the national executive meeting

“The polls have provided an opportunity to the people to give a resounding verdict against money power, mafia power and anti-farmer policies of the two governments in Karnataka after the last assembly election”, he said.