Introduction

The voter turnout for the elections was recorded at 72.67%, which is slightly above the previous polls in 2018. Several pollsters have predicted that the Congress may have an edge in Karnataka, which is BJP’s southern citadel, in a hung assembly with a couple of them even projecting that the grand old party may get a majority on its own. In this article, we will analyze the exit polls of the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023.

Exit Polls Predictions

The exit polls conducted by various agencies predict different outcomes of the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023. Some predict a hung assembly, while others indicate a slight advantage for the Congress with HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal (Secular) playing a key role. Several pollsters have predicted that the Congress may have an edge in Karnataka. According to some exit polls, the grand old party may get a majority on its own. Meanwhile, the BJP is expected to lose the only southern state that it has in its kitty.

The Congress’s Edge

Congress leaders, including Shivakumar, who was the Congress candidate from Kanakapura constituency, said the poll outcome would decisively be in favour of his party, and there will be no such situation which might warrant them to consider post-poll alliances. According to him, the people are knowledgeable and educated and have voted considering the larger interests of the state. The double engine has failed in Karnataka. Such a situation, which might prompt the Congress to go into a post-poll alliance, will not arise.

Political Lessons for BJP and Congress

Nalin Mehta, a political scientist and the author of a new book about the BJP, said the state elections are a “high-stakes prestige contest” for both parties. Throughout the campaign season, the BJP has touched on religious nationalism, a hot-button topic that will likely colour next year’s national ballot. The Congress party has vowed to ban organizations like the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu right-wing outfit with ties to the BJP. By contrast, Modi has mocked that idea, telling voters to voice their support for the organization when they enter polling booths. Karnataka will ultimately offer helpful lessons to Modi about what works with voters. The outcome of this contest will influence much of the political discourse on the road to the 2024 national polls.

Conclusion

The Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 are crucial for the BJP and the Congress, as they are a high-stakes prestige contest for both parties. The exit polls predict different outcomes, with some indicating a hung assembly and others giving an edge to the Congress. The poll outcome would be in favour of the Congress, according to Congress leaders. The BJP’s loss in the only southern state that it has in its kitty will be a big blow. The outcome of this contest will influence much of the political discourse on the road to the 2024 national polls.

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