Holding on to its strength of 22 corporators, Congress has an edge over its rival JD(S), which posted an impressive performance getting elected 20 corporators. BJP has netted 12, seven Independent candidates and two Social Democratic Party of India candidates have entered the 65 member House. Yeddyurappa's KJP and Sriramulu's BSR Congress has got one seat each. With the MCC emerging a fractured house, the ground is now wide open for political maneuverings.

Though Congress managed to continue its edge, its performance is not as impressive as in other corporations in Karnataka. This, when Mysore is the home turf of opposition leader Siddaramaiah, who had asserted that his party will emerge a clear winner in the MCC polls.

The seven Independents now hold the key. Of the seven, three are rebel Congress leaders who have got themselves elected against the official candidates leaving a window of opportunity for Congress to boost its count by getting the four rebels back into the party fold. But Congress is planning to sit in the opposition. City Congress chief C Dasegowda told TOI: "As of now, we plan to sit in the opposition since cobbling requisite number looks difficult. I'll consult the KPCC leaders and decide."

Ahead of the polling, though Congress threatened the rebel candidates in the fray to withdraw and said it will expel them from the party, it has not done so. Dasegowda said they had not expelled the rebel candidates.

Riding on an inspiring performance, JD(S)-it has improved its tally from 18 in 2008-is not looking at striking alliance with Congress to rule the civic body. Between 2009 and 2013, Congress and JD(S) entered into a coalition to hold on to the power at the MCC. "As of now, we are not considering that option," JD(S) leader and former mayor Sandesh Swamy, who is reelected, explained.

The gameplan of the party is this: As the three Independents elected are rebel JD(S) candidates, it is thinking to stake its own claim luring all the Independents and the SDPI corporators. A senior party leader indicated that they are open for an alliance with BJP. For the record, the JD(S) and BJP have struck an alliance at the Mysore Zilla Panchayat to deny Congress the power.