Bangalore: Preferring to "closely watch" the unfolding situation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has emerged as the single largest party in the Karnataka Assembly polls, today (May 14, 2004) warned the Congress not to "hijack" the people's mandate which was "outright" rejection of that party and its policies.

Addressing newly-elected BJP MLAs and MPs, party spokesman Arun Jaitley said the BJP-JD-U (Janata Dal - United) combine had emerged as the single largest pre-poll group and "if anybody has the best chance to stake claim (to form Government) and maximum legitimacy to stake claim, it is us".

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"We have decided to closely watch the situation," said Jaitley who, as in charge of party affairs in Karnataka, guided the BJP in crafting its strategies for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Telling the Congress not to "play games" and hijack the mandate, Jaitley reminded it that soon after it became clear that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was being rejected, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said it was a mandate to sit in the Opposition. "Congress should remember this."

"What happens next, there is no readymade answer. But one fact that is absolutely clear is that the Congress is completely routed and three-fourths of the seats have gone to the parties which campaigned aggressively against the State Government and the Congress," Jaitley said.

"There is only one conclusion from this. The outright rejection of Congress Party and its Government's policies," he said.

He cautioned the Congress that if it tried to "hijack" the mandate, "people will wait for their opportunity to have a popular revenge".

Referring to the situation arising out of the hung Assembly, he said, "It has to find a solution. We will play a constructive role in this regard. We are ready for any eventuality. We are closely watching the situation."

He said the BJP Legislature Party would have to meet soon to discuss the future course of action.

Jaitley said the primacy of Congress in Karnataka had been diluted and the BJP had occupied the bulk of non-Congress space. BJP was in the centrestage of Karnataka politics and it would play a dominant role in shaping the destiny of the State.