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Exit polls say NDA leads Congress-JD(S) in Karnataka
The BJP had won 17 out of the 28 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election in Karnataka, the only southern state where the ruling party at the Centre has consistently performed well. The Congress got nine and JD(S) two in the triangular contest in the last general election.
The BJP is well placed to win most Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, according to exit poll results that came out on Sunday evening.
The India Today-Axis poll gave the NDA 21-25 seats, while the ruling coalition of the Congress-JD(S) is expected to get 3-6 seats. According to News18-IPSOS survey, the BJP is predicted to win 20-23 seats out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. The UPA, says the survey, is likely to get 5-8 seats.
The BJP will win 21 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, Congress six and JD(S) one, says the Times Now-VMR poll. Today’s Chanakya gave the BJP 23 plus or minus 4 seats and 5 plus or minus 4 seats for the JD(S).
The Republic-CVoter exit poll says the BJP will get 18 seats and the JD(S) will get 9. According to the NewsX-NETA exit poll, the BJP will win 15 seats, while the Congress-JD(S) will get 12.
The results will only be known on Thursday, May 23, when votes are counted as exit polls have often proved unreliable in India.
The Lok Sabha election in Karnataka was held in the second and third phase of polling on April 18 and April 23 with 14 parliamentary constituencies voting in each of the two rounds.
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The BJP had won 17 out of the 28 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election in Karnataka, the only southern state where the ruling party at the Centre has consistently performed well. The Congress got nine and JD(S) two in the triangular contest in the last general election.
This year, the political equation has changed in the state with the Congress and the JD(S) coming together in an alliance after these parties entered into an understanding in the assembly election in 2018. The JD(S) contested from ten seats and the Congress fielded candidates from 18 seats in Karnataka.
The Lok Sabha election was bitterly fought as both the ruling Congress-JD(S) combine as well as the BJP accused each other of horse-trading.
Both the parties are looking to reverse the trend of BJP dominance in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. And, the BJP is determined to improve its tally compared to last time riding on the Modi wave. This year, however, there is no Modi wave but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still very popular in the state often called the gateway to the south.
The constant friction between the Congress and JD(S) has marred the Lok Sabha election which was visible even after the assembly polls.
Moreover, the fact that Karnataka has historically voted for a different party at the state and the Centre will also be at play.
The BJP Karnataka unit believes it can win 22 seats while the Congress with JD(S) support feels it will get more than the 11 seats which the two parties won in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The JD(S) is looking to improve tally in the polls.
The outcome of the Lok Sabha poll is crucial for the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance as it would have a bearing on the longevity of the coalition government.
