After the Karnataka Assembly elections on May 10, 2023, seven out of ten exit polls indicated a hung assembly, with the Congress party holding a slim lead over its main competitor, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP is predicted to win between 85 and 95 seats in the 224-member assembly, while the Congress is predicted to win between 95 and 105 seats, according to exit polls. Around 25 seats are expected to go to the Janata Dal (Secular), with the remaining seats possibly going to other parties or independents.
The exit polls indicate that the Congress party is likely to win the most seats in the assembly, but it might not have a majority large enough to form a government on its own. To create a coalition government in such a case, the party could have to enlist the aid of other parties, particularly the Janata Dal (Secular).
On the other hand, if the BJP is unable to secure a majority, it may be forced to rely on its partners or pursue independent candidates. The party may find it difficult to create a government without the backing of the Janata Dal (Secular), which has established itself as a kingmaker in the state, according to the exit polls.
The vote share of the Congress party, which is anticipated to receive over 40% of the votes compared to 32% in the previous assembly elections held in 2018, has also been significantly increased according to the exit polls. The BJP’s vote share is predicted to decrease from 36% to 32%, while the Janata Dal (Secular) may observe a minor increase in its vote share.
In conclusion, the results of the Karnataka Assembly elections appear to be closely contested and uncertain. It remains to be seen which party or alliance will be able to establish the state’s government after the counting on May 13, 2023.
