Highlights
- BS Yeddyurappa had said that he will have his oath ceremony on May 17
- Only one exit poll on Saturday predicted an outright victory for the BJP
- Aggregate of exit polls indicated that BJP will be ahead with 99 seats
BS Yeddyurappa -- who set a date for his oath ceremony as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka before the elections -- today offered to give in writing that his party, the BJP, will win more than 120 seats. The prospective Chief Minister of the BJP also indicated that exit polls that predicted a hung assembly in the state got it wrong.
"With the help of everyone, we are to win 125-130 seats. The Congress will not cross 70 seats and the JD(S) will not cross 24-25... These are my figures. Until now, never have my calculations gone wrong," Mr Yeddyurappa told the media this morning. "I have been here for long, travelled across Karnataka. Do you want me to give it to you in writing right now? You can then verify that once the results are in," added the 75-year-old who has spent decades in state politics.
Mr Yeddyurappa declared days before the elections that he will have his oath ceremony on May 17, subject to the schedule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The show of confidence was dismissed by his opponent
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed as "dreaming".
Mr Siddaramaiah also said Mr Yeddyurappa was
"mentally disturbed" -- a comment the latter brushed off today. "I will not try and talk too much about Siddaramaiah. His time is over. It is clear that he is going to lose," said Mr Yeddyurappa.
Only one exit poll yesterday predicted an outright victory for the BJP. Times Now-Chanakya suggested the BJP will win 120 seats in the 224-seat state assembly - considerably above the halfway mark of 112. Five others predicted that it will be the single largest party. Four others said Congress will be ahead of the BJP.
An aggregate of the exit polls indicated that the BJP will be ahead with 99 seats, the Congress will get 88 - figures that fall far short of majority.