Goa/Bengaluru, March 10: Karnataka Congress leader and the party’s premier troubleshooter DK Shivakumar is camping in Goa soon after several pollsters predicted a hung assembly in the state, it was reported on Thursday. Shivakumar was rushed to Goa by Congress high command to safeguard its 37 candidates. As per exit polls, the ruling BJP and Congress might fall short of the magic number and may need the support of smaller parties and independents to form the government. On March 8, Shivkumar shifted the Congress candidates to a resort in Madgaon to prevent them from falling prey to horsetrading if there is a hung assembly. The magic number in the 40-member Goa assembly is 21. Veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram has been tasked with opening channels of dialogue with smaller parties like Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), AAP and independents in case the party falls short of a simple majority. Shivakumar will be staying in Goa till March 11 and might extend his stay till the new government is formed.
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