Hoping for best, Congress keeps fingers crossed

The exit polls might have predicted a thumping victory for their party in Karnataka polls but Congress leaders are not taking anything for granted. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

The exit polls might have predicted a thumping victory for their party in Karnataka polls but Congress leaders are not taking anything for granted.

Considering exit polls have been off the mark in the past- Punjab being one such example where the exit polls had predicted a comfortable win for the Congress in the 2012 assembly elections but the Akali Dal created history by retaining power-party leaders are a cautious lot.

"There is many a slip between the cup and the lip… Let the results come," said a party candidate from a constituency in north Karnataka. Another leader said, "Things look positive for us. We should be able to make it."

However, the party is upbeat over the voter turnout of about 70% with many suggesting that higher polling is often an indication of the prevailing mood against the incumbent government.

Few state leaders, however, argued that the field was wide open as rebels and small parties could play spoiler. On majority of seats, the contest is triangular between the Congress, BJP and JD(S) or KJP of BS Yeddyurappa. While the direct fight between the Congress and the JD(S) is limited to Mysore region, the Congress and the BJP are vying for supremacy in coastal region.

However, all eyes are on the KJP as the opinion is divided on whom the party will hurt the most - the BJP or the Congress. Though many analysts suggest that the KJP will inflict maximum damage to the BJP, there are few who argue that Yeddyurappa's party will dent the prospects of the Congress on many seats.