An impressive 70 per cent turnout of voters in elections to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Sunday indicated a decisive vote for a change of government in the state, bolstering the prospects of a comeback by the Congress.
As Congress leaders rejoiced the high voter turnout, all exit polls indicated that their party will emerge a winner while the BJP could end up a poor second, followed by the Janata Dal (S) and the nascent Karnataka Janata Party (KJP). The exit polls predicted a win for the Congress with over 110 seats in the 224-member Assembly, while the BJP was given 50-60 seats and former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s KJP around 10 seats. The H.D. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is likely to win 35 to 50 seats.
Counting of votes will be start on Wednesday morning, and the final results are likely later the same day.
In the current Assembly, the BJP, with 110 MLAs — three short of a majority — ruled with the support of five Independent legislators. The Congress had won 80 seats, and the JD(S) 28 seats in elections held in 2008.
The polling percentage of 70, despite a scorching sun in most parts of the state, was higher than figures of 64.91 per cent in 2008 and 65.17 per cent in 2004 respectively. While Haveri district topped the list with 79 per cent voting (at 5 pm), voters in Bengaluru were none too enthusiastic, with the district recording a mere 42.47 per cent vote (at 5 pm). This despite an addition of 14 lakh new voters in the city through a Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign launched by the Election Commission.