With most exit polls throwing up the prospect of a fractured verdict in Karnataka, both Congress and BJP have commenced back room operations to strike an alliance with JD(S) to form a government in the event of a hung assembly. On Thursday, senior Congress functionaries led by PCC chief D K Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah held talks with party general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala on the way forward.