7 years ago
Bengaluru:
The people of Karnataka will vote on May 12 in the assembly election that is crucial for both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress and the BJP, which has deployed its whole arsenal of star campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bid to take the southern state from the Congress's hold. If the BJP wins, it would boost the party's pan-India march toward the south, especially after extending its influence in the north-east in recent assembly elections. A Congress win would reinforce the party's claim that the BJP's brand of politics does not have takers everywhere. The Karnataka assembly election is going to be a close fight, opinion polls show, with political parties trying to attract the influential castes such as the Lingayats and the Vokkaligas.
The 8 bellwether seats to look out for as Karnataka votes on May 12. In the last 12 elections, Shirahatti has always voted the party that has won the state.
The 8 bellwether seats to look out for as Karnataka votes on May 12. In the last 12 elections, Shirahatti has always voted the party that has won the state.
Siddaramaiah: The workers wanted me to contest from Badami. The high command also told me to contest from Badami. I am not at all bothered whether Narendra Modi or Amit Shah come here. Yogi Adityanath plays communal card. It's good if he comes here. People will see him through.
Sree Siddalinga Swamy: Each and everyone has their own beliefs. We cannot question their beliefs. (On voting) People must go out and vote. But I will not tell them who to vote for.
Caste Factor | BJP vs Congress vs JD(S): Their biggest strengths and weaknesses in Karnataka.
Caste Factor | BJP vs Congress vs JD(S): Their biggest strengths and weaknesses in Karnataka.
Maya Sharma: He (BS Yeddyurappa) is not a rare precious jewel like Siddaramaiah for the Congress. He is one among many BJP chief ministers. Also, his age factor is there.
Maya Sharma: It is largely a battle of Siddaramaiah against rival national leaders. He has got a mixed report card. He has not seen a major crisis as the BJP had seen in the state.
The caste and religion factor in Karnataka elections
The caste and religion factor in Karnataka elections
Prannoy Roy: If there is a hung assembly, the most likely scenario is BJP with JD(S) MLAs.
Shekhar Gupta: If he (HD Kumaraswamy) can ally with the BJP to save his party, he may do it again. If he goes with Congress, he may put a condition like asking them to change the chief minister.
Prannoy Roy: It's interesting to see the voting pattern of local polls is almost similar to the assembly election if held within a few months. The good thing about municipal voting is there is no sample error when it is compared to assembly elections. They are pretty good indicators. But everybody is pointing out to a hung assembly.
Municipal body and Panchayat election results are a good benchmark for voting pattern in Assembly elections. But the last local body polls were held two years ago.
Municipal body and Panchayat election results are a good benchmark for voting pattern in Assembly elections. But the last local body polls were held two years ago.
A small swing in votes is crucial to determine who gets a majority. The BJP needs a 4% swing in votes to get a majority while the Congress needs 3%.
Shekhar Gupta: When you see people voting according to their traditional preferences, it's difficult to predict who they will vote for.
Maya Sharma: The Congress is trying to find that one factor that will make a difference in their favour.
A small swing in votes is crucial to determine who gets a majority. The BJP needs a 4% swing in votes to get a majority while the Congress needs 3%.
85% of the last 14 assembly elections have thrown up a clear verdict. May 12 voting to decide if it will be a cliffhanger on results day.
Poll of Polls show the BJP could more than double its tally to 86 seats in the 224-seat assembly but fall 8 seats short of the Congress tally, as compared to 2013 results. Neck-and-neck fight likely as both parties are likely to fall short of a majority on their own.
Shekhar Gupta: There can be nothing more desperate than bringing the Reddy brothers back to the fold.
Prannoy Roy: The BJP has compromised a bit on its corruption plank.
In 2013, Congress crossed the halfway mark (112) with ease. But had BS Yeddyurappa been a part of the BJP alliance, the state would have seen a hung Assembly.
