A day before the electoral fortunes of top leaders in Karnataka — Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar and JD(S)’ HD Kumaraswamy, among many others — will be known on Saturday, both the ruling BJP and the Congress on Friday went into huddles and held strategy sessions on ways to keep the flock together.

While, Bommai expressed confidence that the BJP will cross the “magic figure” and the question of coalition talks with other political parties does not arise now, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy expressed willingness to “help-out”  in forming the Government in case of a hung Assembly in the State.  Kumaraswamy, who was in Singapore, said his party has already received feelers from the Congress and the BJP.

A day ahead of the vote counting, Bommai met BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa, along with other party leaders, including Ministers Murugesh Nirani, Byrathi Basavaraj, party MP Lehar Singh Siroya and AT Ramaswamy, at the former chief minister’s residence.

The counting will begin at 8 am in 36 centres across the State, and poll officials expect a clear picture about the outcome is likely to emerge by mid-day.

The BJP and the Congress leaders also considered reaching out to independent candidates who are likely to win, as most exit polls predicted a tight contest between the two parties.

Hectic parleys were on at Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence here, with AICC general secretary and in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, party’s state unit chief DK Shivakumar and former Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara among others.