Karnataka elections: After a high voltage campaign, polling for the Karnataka Assembly elections began amid tight security on Wednesday, May 10. Voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across the state. The major political parties in contention are the BJP, Congress, and JD(S) The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats.
Analysts say the Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters will play a major factor in the elections. While Lingayats are 17 per cent of the population, Vokkaligas comprise 11 per cent.
Political parties make promises galore
All three major political parties in the state — BJP, Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)– have put in their best to woo voters. Each one has made promises and accused each other for many misdeeds to secure a majority in the state’s 224-seat Assembly.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa cast his vote early in Shivamogga. He said he expects 75%-80% voters to support the BJP. “We will get absolute majority and will form the government. We will win 130-135 seats,” the veteran party leader said.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he is “very happy” the way his party conducted its campaign and the way people have responded to it. “I appeal to people to come and vote for the development of Karnataka,” Bommai said.
Rahul Gandhi promises 40-per cent-commission-free state
On the other side, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people to vote in large numbers to build a progressive and a “40-per cent-commission-free” state. He tweeted in Hindi, “Karnataka’s vote… for 5 guarantees, for women’s rights, for youth employment, for the upliftment of the poor. Come, vote in large numbers.”
BJP and Congress both parties have run a high-profile campaign. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 19 public meetings and six roadshows, Rahul Gandhi camped in the state for 12 days.
However, resignations in the BJP rocked the party’s prospects. Several senior Lingayat leaders including former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar, joined the Congress after BJP deined them a party ticket. This could divide the Lingayat vote for the BJP.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state unit chief DK Shivakumar are at loggerheads but have managed to keep up a united front.
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