Crisis gripped an embattled Janata Dal-Secular in Karnataka on Wednesday in the wake of a section of its partymen opening parleys with Congress to revive coalition ties for forming a government to avoid a snap poll and the top brass expressing dissent over the move.

The two-day mission to Delhi to explore possibility of re-forging ties with Congress by JDS senior leader and former home minister M P Prakash came in for a flak from the party supremo H D Devegowda.

"There is a positive response from Congress to my proposal to form the government," Prakash said on his return to the city after holding talks with Congress leaders, including Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Prithviraj Chavan and others.

Meanwhile, a fuming Gowda on Wednesday said, "Prakash has not been authorised by me or by the party to hold talks with Congress."

"I went to Delhi to hold parleys with Congress leaders as per the mandate given to me by JDS legislators," Prakash, who has emerged as a rallying point for those who oppose mid-term election and favour government formation, said defending his actions.

The issue of formation of a government with Congress was expected to take a shape after Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] returned from her China visit, he said exuding confidence of reviving ties between the parties, over the success of which Kumaraswamy has expressed severe doubts.

"There is no proposal either from the Congress or BJP to us for forming the government. Hence I can't say I will form the government," Kumaraswamy, whose government was pulled down by BJP early this month, said.