Cong likely to bag 110-116 seats in Karnataka: TV channel

Congress is likely to bag 110-116 seats in the Karnataka Assembly elections while the ruling BJP may end up with around 50 seats, news channel CNN-IBN predicted today.

According to estimates, Congress is likely to get 110 to 116 seats in the elections in 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, as per 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.

Earlier, CNN-IBN and The Week had conducted a pre-poll survey on Karnataka in the second week of April and projected that Congress is likely to get 117-129 seats, BJP 39-49, JD(S) 34-44 and others 14-22.

A statement said CNN-IBN revised the projection taking into account various factors like faulty choice of candidates by Congress leading to unhappiness within the party and open and subtle opposition to the official nominee and infighting between prominent leaders of Congress.

The channel also took note of the "absence of a well- orchestrated and coordinated campaign, consolidation of Vokkaliga vote behind the JD(S) in southern Karnataka and Bangalore rural, split in Lingayat vote between BJP and KJP in northern Karnataka, resulting in an advantage for Congress."

It also said there was a strong impact of double anti-incumbency against BJP - against government and against individual MLAs, many of whom have completed 2 or 3 terms, in coastal Karnataka that has worked to the advantage of Congress.