BENGALURU: As early trends for Karnataka Assembly elections results showed Congress leading in 118 seats, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Saturday said that there will be a “tough fight” as the grand old party has “joined hands” with the JD(S).
“After a few hours, we will get an idea, but that too will not be final as there is a tough fight in every seat and I do agree with this; I am not denying this. It will be a tough fight because our opponents have joined hands together”, he said. The BJP was leading in 72 seats and the JD(S) in 28 while Others were ahead in five seats during early trends.
Sadananda Gowda further said that what appears between Congress and JD(S), the reality is entirely different on the ground. On the question of the BJP’s move in the case of a hung Assembly, Gowda said the party will decide only after the result is announced.
According to Election Commission’s latest data, early trends showed Congress leading against the BJP and JD(S) in the counting of votes that began in Karnataka on Saturday.
The exit polls, which were out after voting ended on May 10, predicted a hung Assembly with some showing Congress returning to power with a majority. Most of the exit polls had predicted that the BJP will fall short of the halfway mark, 113.
The Congress is expected to have a clear edge in Karnataka in the Assembly elections held on Wednesday with four exit polls giving it a full majority and some predicting a hung Assembly with an advantage to the party. In such circumstances, the JD(S) can play the role of a kingmaker. (ANI)