Karnataka: Before Exit polls, a look at how Opinion polls forecasted Cong & BJP’s fortunes

New Delhi: Polling is underway for electing new legislators in all the 224 Assembly constituencies of Karnataka. The voting started today morning & will culminated by 6 PM in the evening. Many noted personalities including the Murthy couple visited their local booth, casted their ballot and also appealed to youngsters to exercise their democratic right.

While the fate of over 2,500 candidates will be sealed in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) today, the Exit polls, this evening, will give a fair share of parties performance in the Assembly Elections. The elections are likely to a triangular contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress & Janata Dal (Secular) party. Though, the state has a tradition of alternating power between BJP & Congress every 5 years, the saffron party is aiming to re-write history by charting its return to power. Congress too has gone all-out to dislodge Bommai government while Kumaraswamy-led JD(S) is hoping for bigger share to position itself as the ‘kingmaker’, like previous 2018 elections.

Here we take a look at how Opinion polls forecasted about the fate of 3 parties in days gone by. According to most Opinion polls, Congress was seen as the single largest party while BJP lagged behind. Only a couple of surveys showed BJP taking the lead.

What Opinion Polls predicted so far:

• ABP News-C Voter: Congress predicted to win 110-122 seats; BJP seen at 73-85 and JD(S) at 21-29
• India TV-CNX: Congress forecasted to bag 105 seats, BJP seen at 85 seats, JD(S) may get 32 seats
• India Today-CVoter: Again, Congress in the lead with 107-119 seats, BJP at 74-86 seats

Eedina opinion poll: Majority for Congress – 132 to 140 seats, BJP at 57-65 seats.

Zee News-Matrize Opinion Poll: Here, BJP is predicted to take clear lead, bagging 103 — 115 seats, Congress predicted to win 79 to 91 seats & JD(S) at 26-36 seats.

The high-decibel campaign for Karnataka election ended on Monday evening. Both BJP & Congress brought their top-rung leaders to the battlefield, hoping to cash in on their popularity and win votes of the masses. Karnataka, the Southern citadel which also marks an entry point into South India, has become all the more essential because of a ‘polarized fight’ between BJP & Congress as this will also set the tone for 2024 Elections.