Five Hours Into Counting, NDA Ahead In Karnataka, INDIA Fights On

The BJP-led NDA is ahead in Karnataka, but INDIA is fighting hard for the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. About five hours after counting began, the NDA is leading in 20 out of 28 seats and the INDIA Opposition bloc in 8. These are, however, early trends and may change anytime.

In the run-up to the election, BJP and its ally, HD Devegowda's JDS, faced a scathing attack from the Opposition over the sex tapes row surrounding Mr Devegowda's grandson and sitting MP Prajwal Revanna. Significantly, Revanna is trailing by 35,000 votes in Hassan at 1.15 pm, according to the Election Commission data. 

While the BJP is contesting 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, the JDS is fighting on three. The Congress, which is in power in the state, is fighting alone.

In the 2019 election, the BJP won 25 out of the state's 28 seats, the Congress and the JDS -- then allies --  one each. This time, JDS has switched sides to NDA and the Congress is going it alone.

Winning Karnataka is critical for the Congress because it is a test of its organisational strength in a state it rules. Even within the INDIA bloc, the Congress will have greater bargaining power only if it maximises its tally in states where it is contesting alone.

Most exit polls have given the BJP a clear majority in Karnataka. The Congress, they have predicted, will be confined to single digits.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have rubbished the predictions and said the Congress will perform very well in the state.