Exit polls predict hung assembly in Karnataka

A close call, as many as 40 percent of the poll participants feel that if Congress takes lead in Karnataka elections would clearly mean that the popularity of the Modi govt. has come down and chances of Modi 2.0 becomes less likely. With a hung assembly predicted the party that will emerge as the kingmaker is the JD (S) which as per the poll may manage seats between 35-39. The counting of votes will be done on May 15.

The opposition Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics in the seven decades since independence, is fighting to retain its last major state, Karnataka, amid a fierce battle with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party.

The Rajarajeshwari Nagar incident, where over 10,000 voter cards were found in a flat allegedly owned by aides of incumbent Congress MLA Munirathna, leading to the postponement of polls in the seat, made a mockery of democracy. Images of PM Modi offering prayers at Muktinath Temple on Saturday were beamed to the television sets of voters of Karnataka on the polling day. And if the conspiracy theories around BS Yeddyurappa’s sidelining in the BJP are any indication, the BJP would probably be happy to prop up a JDS government till the 2019 general election, to groom their next generation of leaders and ensure the Congress’ ouster.

India Today-Axis My India gave INC the biggest lead at 106-118 seats, leaving the BJP with 79-92 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chief Ministerial face, B.S. Yeddyurappa, said earlier that people were with the BJP and that he will form the government by winning 145-150 seats. “We will get a clear majority”, Siddaramaiah said in Mysuru, reacting to the Karnataka exit polls.

Turnout, according to the Election Commission, was 70%, down from 71.4% in 2013. It has given Congress 90-103 seats to Congress, 80-93 seats to BJP and 31-39 seats to JDS.

Similarly, News Nation, News X-CNX, Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat and Today’s Chanakya have also predicted that the BJP will win more 100 seats. These channels gave the Congress 78, 82-94 and 72-78 seats, respectively. “Barring a few polling stations, voting has been completed at nearly all”. For instance, the BJP won 110/224 seats in 2008, with a vote share of 33.86 per cent. The hung verdict broadly corroborates the pre-election opinion polls. BJP and JD (S) workers clashed at a booth in the Yelahanka Assembly constituency. Deve Gowda had denied the allegation, insisting that his party had been let down by both, the Congress and BJP, and would support neither. While two women were killed in a three-wheeler accident in Hassan districts, three others died of heart attack after casting their votes.

From netas performing cow worship to determining direction of EVMs; old, disabled and transgenders waiting in queues to vote; and villagers opening their homes to help election staff, Karnataka elections displayed the amusing and heartwarming sides of people.