BJP looks set to hit the Karnataka jackpot

TIL Desk/National/Bengaluru/ The BJP today appeared headed for a simple majority in the Karnataka Assembly, with its candidates leading in 115 constituencies, leaving the ruling Congress way behind, according to the latest trends available for 220 of the state’s 222 seats where polling was held.

Reflecting the plight of the Congress, which was ahead in 63 Assembly segments, chief minister Siddaramaiah was trailing in Chamundeshwari in Mysuru by over 23,000 votes against his JD(S) rival G T Deve Gowda.

In the see-saw battle in Badami in north Karnataka, Siddaramaiah was leading by over 2,700 votes against BJP’s B Sreeramulu, a Lok Sabha MP and close associate of the controversial Reddy brothers. B S Yeddyurappa, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, was ahead of his Congress rival Goni Malatesha by over 24,000 votes in Shikaripura.

Trends showed that another key player JD(S) led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda was faring well in its traditional stronghold of Mysuru region, hurting the prospects of the Congress. JD(S) was ahead in 40 constituencies. The BSP and KPJP were leading in one seat each.

The trends also indicated that the BJP’s footprint spread across Karnataka, save the old Mysuru region, where the JD(S) with its solid Vokkaliga base was faring well. Several ministers including Ramanath Rai, Anjaneya, Umasri, T B Jayachandra, Revanna, Santosh Lad, Vinay Kulkarni, Sharanprakash Patil and A Manju were trailing behind their rivals.