The recent assembly elections in Karnataka recorded a voter turnout of 72.67%, slightly above the previous polls in 2018. Pollsters predict that the Congress may have an edge in a hung assembly, with a couple even projecting that the party may get a majority on its own. Counting of votes for the 224-member Assembly will be taken up on May 13.
The BJP, looking to break a 38-year-old poll jinx where the state has never voted the incumbent party to power, is hoping for a win with the Modi juggernaut. On the other hand, the Congress is hoping for a victory to give it momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the event of a hung verdict, the Janata Dal (Secular) could emerge as a kingmaker. The Aam Aadmi Party has also fielded candidates.
The Election Commission reported largely peaceful voting in all 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, and no repoll indicated in any of the 58,545 polling stations. The EC had taken initiatives to draw people to exercise their voting rights, such as theme-based and ethnic polling booths, and pink booths exclusively operated by women.
While the BJP ran its campaign with a blitzkrieg by Prime Minister Modi, the Congress manifesto proposing to ban the Bajrang Dal heated up the latter half of the campaign, with the BJP and Prime Minister Modi aggressively latching on to the issue to portray the grand old party as being against Lord Hanuman and the sentiments of Hindus. However, barbs like 'venomous snake', 'Vishakanya', and 'Nalayak beta' vitiated the poll campaign as some leaders used intemperate and abusive language.
