Cong may emerge winner in Karnataka: Exit polls

All the channels predict the Congress will win over 110 seats and BJP around 50 seats

Congress is likely to emerge winner in the Karnataka Assembly elections while the ruling BJP could end up a distant loser, exit polls and predictions by TV channels claimed on Sunday. All the channels predicted the Congress will win over 110 seats and BJP around 50 seats. The exit polls claimed former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janata Party will win just over 10 seats.

According to estimates by CNN-IBN channel, Congress is likely to get 110 to 116 seats in the elections to the 224-member House, polling for which was held today, while ruling BJP may get between 43 and 53. H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) is also likely to get 43 to 53 seats, according to prediction revised by the channel following change in several political factors, including faulty choice of candidates by Congress and infighting in it.

'Others' are likely to get 16-24 seats. In the current Assembly, BJP has 110 MLAs - three short of majority - and rules the state with help of five Independent MLAs who were inducted into the ministry. Congress has 80 seats and JD(S) 28.

Headlines Today gave Congress a wafer thin majority with 114 seats and BJP 55 seats. JD(S) may bag 34 seats while Yeddyurappa's party will end up with 11 seats and 'others' nine. Hindi channel ABP news gave Congress 110 to 118 seats and claimed BJP is likely to get 51 to 59 seats. JD(S) was predicted to get 31 to 37 seats while KJP 9 to 13. Times Now predicted a whopping majority for Congress and pegged its tally at 132, with BJP and JD(S) a distant second with 38 seats each. The channel gave 15 to 'others', including KJP and Independents.