In the lead-up to the election, the BJP and its ally, HD Devegowda’s JDS, faced intense scrutiny from the Opposition regarding the scandal involving Mr Devegowda’s grandson and incumbent MP Prajwal Revanna. Notably, Revanna finds himself trailing by 35,000 votes in Hassan as of 1:15 pm, according to data from the Election Commission.
While the BJP contests 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, the JDS competes for three. Despite holding power in the state, the Congress chooses to contest independently.
The outcome in Karnataka holds significant implications, particularly for the Congress, serving as a litmus test for its organizational prowess in a state under its governance. Furthermore, within the INDIA bloc, the Congress stands to gain greater bargaining power if it maximizes its electoral gains in states where it contests solo.
Most exit polls have predicted a decisive victory for the BJP in Karnataka, with projections indicating the Congress may secure only a single-digit tally.
