Karnataka election campaign ends; Shah says BJP will win at least 130 seats

Fever pitch campaigning in Karnataka for assembly elections to be held on Saturday (May 12) came to an end on Thursday evening at 5 pm. The campaigning by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) was electric in content and delivery, ranging from mud-slinging of rival opponents to religion. The run-up to the elections saw top ministers and leaders from every party, attempting to woo voters across the state with their signature campaigning styles. Till the very last minute, the BJP consistently sought to expose the Congress for allegedly resorting to foul means to win the elections.

For the BJP, party president Amit Shah and the party's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa campaigned in the state today, while Congress chief Gandhi and incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigned for their party on the final day.

On Thursday, hours before the curtains came down on campaigning, key leaders, Rahul Gandhi, Piyush Goyal and Amit Shah addressed separate press conferences during which they highlighted key aspects and focus areas of each party's campaign that lasted close to two months. The BJP believes that a win in Karnataka will be its gateway to dominating politics in the South. The Congress is of the view that a win in Karnataka will give it the clout in requires to challenge the BJP in the 2019 general elections, while the Janata Dal (Secular) is essaying the kingmaker's role in anticipation of a possible split verdict.

The surfacing of a huge number of fake voter identity cards from an apartment in Bengaluru's Jalahalli area and the Election Commission stepping in to investigate it has dominated the media space over the last 48 hours. Both the Congress and the BJP continue to indulge in charges and counter-charges.

Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Gandhi, the Karnataka election campaign has also seen political heavyweights Sonia Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaign for their respective parties.

In the 225-member state legislative assembly, including one nominated member, a party requires 113 legislators to form a government with a simple majority. Polling, however, will be held in 223 constituencies across the state instead of 224 seats due to countermanding of the election in Bengaluru's Jayanagar segment following the death of BJP contestant B N Vijaya Kumar on May 4. Ironically, BJP lost in the 2013 Assembly to the Congress after Yeddyurappa left it in 2012 and formed the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) in 2013 to win six seats and reducing it to 40 seats across the state. The counting of votes and announcement of result will take place on May 15. Readmore