Congress has adopted a wait-and-watch mode in Karnataka in spite of reports suggesting that it might extend outside support to the Janata Dal � Secular to retain power if the latter severed links with the BJP. The JD-S is currently locked in a tussle with its coalition partner BJP on the contentious issue of power transfer.

"We are watching the situation closely," All India Congress Committee general secretary Prithviraj Chavan said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The final decision on the issue will be reportedly taken by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi [Images] after her return from the United States.

Congress has maintained that it doesn't want to get embroiled in the power tussle in Karnataka as such a move would be counter productive in the elections.

"Why should we take the anti-incumbency of the JD-S when an election is the best way out," said Congress sources.

The JD-S has called a meeting of its political affairs committee on October 5 to decide the future course of action while 17 BJP minister have submitted their resignation to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday night.

JDS had sprung a surprise on the Congress in January last year when it abandoned the Congress-led coalition in the state and joined hands with the BJP in a power sharing pact.