A pre-poll survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS-ABP shows that Congress is inching its way ahead in the Karnataka Assembly elections, past its rivals, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular). The election is on May 12 and the counting is on May 15.
A previous poll by Jain University-Lokniti-CSDS showed that no party would secure a clear majority as the electoral contest was too close. It appears that the Congress' selection of candidates could turn its fortunes in the Karnataka elections.
However, according to the survey, the Congress may not have found favour with the Lingayat community even after the government recommended religion status for the community. In the past elections, Lingayat voters have leaned toward the BJP.
A Deccan Chronicle report stated that Congress is likely to win 92-102 seats and the BJP, 79-89 seats. JD(S) is expected to win around 34-42 seats. However, it showed that the Congress is trailing behind the JD(S) in the Old Mysuru region while staying ahead in coastal Karnataka and Bombay Karnataka regions.
It is reported that dalit and tribal votes may be leaning toward the Congress.
The predictions have been attributed to the calculations done by the Chennai Mathematical Institute.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ranked at the top in the CM candidate beating out rivals B.S. Yeddyurappa of the BJP and H.D. Kumaraswamy of JD(S).