The counting of votes for the Karnataka assembly elections is to take place today. There are 2615 candidates in the fray for 224 seats in the state. The main contest is between BJP, Congress and JDS. The challenge before the BJP is to break the myth of change of power. So Congress is hopeful of forming the government. At the same time, JDS is once again seeing itself as the kingmaker.
The fate of many big leaders in the Karnataka elections is to be decided today. From Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress state president DK Shivakumar, Jagadish Shettar and Kumaraswamy, the credibility of many veterans is at stake. The main contest is between BJP, Congress and JDS. Let’s take a look at such high profile seats in Karnataka from where big names are in the fray.
Shiggaon: CM Bommai vs Yasir Pathan
Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan from Congress and Shashidhar Channabasappa Yaligar from JDS are trying their luck against CM Bommai. Bommai has been winning from here for three consecutive times on a BJP ticket. It is considered the most high profile seat of the state.
Varuna: Siddaramaiah vs Somanna
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is in the fray. BJP’s veteran leader V Somanna and Bharti Shankar from JDS have kept pace against him.
Kanakapura: Shivakumar vs R Ashok
Veteran Congress leader and state president DK Shivkumar is in the fray from Kanakapura seat. R Ashok from BJP and B Nagaraju from JDS are trying their luck against Shivakumar. Shivkumar is continuously winning from Kanakpura seat, but BJP has created a political cycle against him by fielding its big leader R Ashok.
Hubli-Dharwad Central: Shettar vs Mahesh
Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar is contesting from this seat on Congress ticket this time. Due to not getting ticket from BJP, he joined Congress. Shettar has been continuously winning this seat. BJP’s Mahesh Tenginakai is trying his luck against him from this seat.
Channapatna: Kumaraswamy vs Yogeshwar
JDS chief and former chief minister Kumaraswamy is in the fray from Channapatna assembly seat. CP Yogeshwar from BJP and Gangadhar S from Congress are fighting against him. This seat is considered a stronghold of JDS. Kumaraswamy is continuously winning from this seat.
Chittapur: Priyank Kharge vs Manikant
Chittapur’s name also comes in the high profile seats of Karnataka. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge has entered the fray from Chittapur seat. Manikant Rathod from BJP is in the fray against Priyank. Priyank is beating the rhythm for the purpose of scoring a hat-trick. This seat is one of the strongest seats of Congress.
Devanahalli seat: H Muniappa vs Pilla Munishamappa
There is a possibility of a close fight between H Muniyappa of Congress and Pilla Munishamappa of BJP from this seat.
Koratagere: G Parameshwara Vs Anil Kumar
Congress has given ticket to Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara from Koratagere (SC) assembly seat. Against them, BJP has fielded retired IAS Anil Kumar.
Athani: Savadi vs Kumathalli
All eyes are on the Athadi assembly seat in Karnataka, as veteran BJP leader and former chief minister Laxman Savadi is contesting on a Congress ticket this time. Mahesh Kumathalli from BJP and Shashikant Padsalgi from JDS are trying their luck against Savadi. Kumathalli won the last election on a Congress ticket, but later joined the BJP. In this way, both the leaders who contested the last election are trying their luck against each other.
Shikaripura: Will Yeddyurappa’s legacy survive?
Everyone’s eye is on the Shikaripura assembly seat. This seat has been held by former chief minister and veteran BJP leader Yeddyurappa, from where his son BY Vijayendra is contesting this time. JB Malatesh from Congress has fielded against Vijayendra. Yeddyurappa has won eight times from this seat and this time Vijayendra has come down to take over his legacy.
Congress likely to return in exit polls
In the exit polls, this time there are chances of Congress coming back in Karnataka. According to the exit poll of Aaj Tak-Axis My India, this time the Congress party can get absolute majority in Karnataka. Out of 224 assembly seats in Karnataka, Congress is expected to get maximum 122 to 140 seats, BJP 62 to 80 seats, JDS 20 to 25 seats and others zero to three seats.
Even in terms of vote share, the Congress party can go far ahead of the BJP. In the exit poll, the Congress party is expected to get 42.5% votes, BJP 34.5% and JDS 16.5%, and this situation is quite different from the last time in terms of seats and votes.
what were the results last time
In the 2018 elections, BJP became the single largest party, but Congress and JDS together formed the government. However, later JDS split and its MLAs joined BJP. In this way, within a year, BJP was successful in forming the government. At present, BJP has 116 MLAs in Karnataka. Congress has 69 members and JDS has 29 members. At the same time, 6 seats are still vacant.
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