After high-pitch campaigning and the end of intense voting in Karnataka, the fate of over 2,600 candidates in Karnataka is locked in the electronic voting machines
Team Clarion
BENGALURU — The Congress is set to return to power in Karnataka with a clear majority, securing 122-140 seats in the state, according to India Today-Axis My India exit poll.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which ran a high-voltage campaign in the southern state, is likely to finish second with 62-80 seats, the survey showed.
Karnataka recorded a voter turnout of over 66 per cent in the Assembly polls on Wednesday, according to the Election Commission.
After high-pitch campaigning and the end of intense voting in Karnataka, the fate of over 2,600 candidates in Karnataka is locked in the electronic voting machines.
Counting of votes for all 224 seats in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly will take place on May 13 and the outcome is likely to be an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of national elections expected by May next year.
According to exit polls, Congress is the single largest party. There is no question of coalition with any other party, especially JD(S), says Congress leader Jagadish Shettar.
Most of the exit polls show Congress ahead of the BJP and JD(S) may play the role of kingmaker in case of a hung verdict which is unlikely if exit polls are to be believed.
The Chanakya exit poll predicts Congress to get 120 seats while BJP will be able to register a win in 92 seats. JD(S) is set to bag 12 seats, it said.
India TV-CNX exit polls gave the Congress 110-120 seats and the BJP 80-90 seats. They predicted 20-24 seats for the JD (S).
Times Now-ETG exit poll gave Congress 113 seats and the BJP 85 and JD(S) 23.
News-CVoter, Republic TV-P MARQ, Times Now-ETG, TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat and Zee News-Matrize are also predicting an advantage for Congress
Reacting to the exit polls, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is reported to have said that exit polls are mere predictions, they can’t be 100% correct. “We are going to get a complete majority and form the government. I think we should wait till 13th May,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked ‘Babbar Sher’ workers and other party leaders for a well-run, dignified and people-oriented campaign.
