Ex-Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa declared himself '100 per cent confident' Wednesday night that the Bharatiya Janata Party would retain power in the southern state despite multiple exit polls handing bitter rivals the Congress a narrow advantage. "Even now I am 100 per cent confident we are going to form the government with absolute majority. There is no question of hung assembly or coalition government..." he told news agency ANI.
Yediyurappa predicted 115-117 seats for his party to just about take them over the finish line; the majority mark in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly is 113 seats. The veteran leader did, however, leave himself and the BJP some wiggle room, insisting the party's high command 'will take the final call'.
LATEST UPDATES | 2023 Karnataka election exit poll suggests hung Assembly
The 'final call' reference was to a possible post-poll deal with the Janata Dal Secular, which is almost certainly out of the running to win this election - its best prediction is 33 seats - but could play the role of a 'kingmaker'.
"We are going to get 115-117 seats so question of joining with JDS right now does not arise," Yediyurappa said.
Yediyurappa's comment comes hours after Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar categorically ruled out any post-poll deal with the JDS.
{{/usCountry}}Yediyurappa's comment comes hours after Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar categorically ruled out any post-poll deal with the JDS.
{{/usCountry}}The two were allies and formed the government after the 2018 election but that joy was short-lived because several MLAs jumped ship to the BJP the following yea, triggering the Cong-JDS administration's fall.
"There are no chances of alliance with JDS. We will form the government on our own," Shivakumar said before exit polls predicted a tight fight with the BJP.
READ | Will Cong ally with 'kingmaker' JDS after polls? DK Shivakumar says…
What do exit polls say?
Karnataka is set for a hung Assembly - with a slight advantage (maybe) for the Congress in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election, multiple exit polls reported Wednesday night after the close of polling across the state.
These predictions also suggest former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's JDS could hold the key for either the BJP or the Congress forming the government.
READ | No clear winner? Exit polls predict tight Congress-BJP race in K'taka
Warning: Exit polls often get it wrong