Bharatiya Janata Party said on Thursday that it would seek the support of the Janata Dal -Secular to form the next government in Karnataka, where the electorate has thrown up a fractured mandate.

"That's the only way," Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council, D H Shankaramurthy told reporters.

He said the BJP would open a channel of discussion with JD-S and try to persuade it to support the party to form the government but hastened to add that they have not yet discussed the issue.

BJP leaders, including Arun Jaitley who is slated to arrive in Bangalore, would discuss the matter Thursday night or on Friday and chalk out a strategy.

Asked if the BJP would support a JD-S government, Shankaramurthy said a coalition government works well when the party with lesser number of seats supports the one with more.