Union home minister L K Advani on Sunday indicated that his party was not averse to taking support of Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the post-election scenario. "I feel very happy to read in the newspapers that the NCP may support the BJP in forming the government. It is elating to know that the party, which was once part of the Congress and was responsible for toppling us, is now keen to give us support after the elections", he told reporters in Pune. But NCP leader Sharad Pawar has ruled out any post-election alliance with BJP. ``I categorically deny any meeting with any BJP leader in the last many weeks. There is no question of the NCP having any dealings with a communal party like the BJP,'' he said in a statement in New Delhi.

BJP rules out support to any Dal faction in Karnataka

Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday ruled out support to any faction of the Janata Dal ``as the Dal did not exist anymorewith the Election Commission freezing the party's symbol.'' Talking to newspersons in Bangalore, he, however, reiterated that the BJP would have alliance with the Lok Shakti. There was no difference of opinion between the Central and state units of the party in this regard. The seat-sharing exercise would commence in a few days after the BJP's central election committee meets in New Delhi on August 10 and 11.Naidu, in-charge of Karnataka, said a a new situation had cropped up following the Election Commission's order and his party would wait for some time for the situation to crystallise in the light of the order.

Kannada film star Amrish joins Cong

Congress poll prospects in Karnataka got a major boost on Sunday with three prominent Janata Dal leaders including popular Kannada actor Amrish joining the party. The other two leaders joining the party with Amrish are sitting member of the dissolved 12th Lok Sabha Sidda Raju and member of the dissolved Karnataka Assembly LR Shivaram Gowda. Briefingmediapersons at the party headquarters, AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said "We are ahead of other parties by at least two seats in Karnataka even before the polling". The state has 28 Lok Sabha seats.