New Delhi, May 12: Indicating a tight race between the BJP and the Congress, most exit polls for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Saturday forecast a hung assembly with the JD-S likely to play the kingmaker, but were divided on which of the two national parties will emerge as the largest in the House.
Of the over 4.96 crore voters, 70.91 per cent exercised their franchise on Saturday. A voter turnout of 71.4 per cent was recorded in the previous Assembly elections in 2013. The counting will take place on May 15.
Polling was held for 222 of the state’s 224 constituencies following the countermanding of election for the Jayanagara seat due to the death of BJP candidate BN Vijaykumar, and deferment of voting for Rajarajeshwari Nagar seat over allegations of electoral malpractices.
Over 2,600 candidates are in the fray, including four sitting and former chief ministers — incumbent Siddaramaiah, former BJP CMs BS Yeddyurappa and Jagdish Shettar, and HD Kumaraswamy of the JD-S.
There were reports of malfunctioning of EVMs from some polling stations, and minor clashes between Congress and BJP supporters. The two parties also accused each other of inducing voters.
Former PM HD Deve Gowda’s JD-S, though projected to finish a distant third, is likely to play a crucial role in government formation in the event of a fractured mandate.
The exit polls run by Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat and ABP-C Voter predicted that the BJP would emerge as the largest party by getting 95-114 and 97-109 seats, respectively. They put the Congress’ tally at 73-82 and 87-99, respectively with the JD-S predicted to get 32-43 and 21-30 seats.
However, Times Now-VMR and India Today-Axis My India said the ruling Congress in the state would emerge as the largest party, forecasting 90-103 and 106-118 seats for the party. They predicted 80-93 and 79-82 seats for the BJP, respectively.
Times Now put the likely tally of the JD-S at 31-39, while India Today put its figure at 22-30.
News X predicted 102-110, 72-78 and 35-39 seats for the BJP, Congress and JD-S, respectively.
India Today predicted the vote share of the Congress and the BJP at 39 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively. The respective prediction by Republic TV for the two parties was 36 and 38.25 per cent.
The Congress had won 122 seats last time following a split in the BJP, which was reduced to 40 seats while the JD-S also got 40 seats.
Both the BJP and the Congress ran a spirited campaign in the state with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the saffron charge with 21 rallies, while Rahul Gandhi and CM Siddaramaiah led the Congress’ bid to ensure that it defies anti-incumbency to retain power. The BJP has declared BS Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate.
