New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA is ahead in Karnataka, but INDIA is fighting hard for the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. About two hours after counting began, the NDA is heading in 17 out of 28 seats and the INDIA Opposition bloc in 11. These are, however, early trends and may change anytime.
In the run-up to the election, BJP and its ally, HD Devegowda’s JDS, faced a scathing attack from the Opposition over the sex tapes row surrounding Mr Devegowda’s grandson and sitting MP Prajwal Revanna.
While the BJP is contesting 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, the JDS is fighting on three, including Hassan, on which Prajwal Revanna is the candidate. The Congress, which is in power in the state, is fighting alone.
In the 2019 election, the BJP won 25 out of the state’s 28 seats, the Congress and the JDS — then allies — one each. This time, JDS has switched sides to NDA and the Congress is going it alone.
Winning Karnataka is critical for the Congress because it is a test of its organisational strength in a state it rules. Even within the INDIA bloc, the Congress will have greater bargaining power only if it maximises its tally in states where it is contesting alone.
