 "Early celebrations fizzle out as BJP falls short of majority in Karnataka")
BJP supporters started early celebrations on Tuesday as early trends showed that the party might have a landslide victory in Karnataka, which had been one of the last citadel for the Congress.
As early trends suggested the BJP would win in Karnataka, the party's supporters were seen celebrating. A victory would have meant an opening of the doors to BJP in South India. At present, the party does not have a government in any of the southern states.
The exit polls by NDTV, NEWSX, ABP, India TV, and Chanakya had predicted BJP to emerge as the single largest party. On the other hand, India Today and Times Now had predicted Congress to emerge as the single largest party. When the party was seen inching closer to the majority mark of 113, necessary for staking claim to form a government, the supporters of the party were enthralled.
The Bharatiya Janata Party may eventually fall a little short of the majority mark in the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly, but the headway made by it in a state where it was looking to unseat Congress is seen as a shot in the arm for the party. Emerging as the single largest party gives BJP and its supporters enough confidence for the upcoming 2019 national elections and the forthcoming state Assembly elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, likely towards the end of the year.
The trends in the latter half of the day suggested the BJP might fall short of the majority mark by a whisker and fail to form a government on its own. Interestingly, the Congress has offered JD(S) an alliance and, possibly, the chief ministerial post. Congress and JD(S) together are likely to cross the 113 mark.