WEB DESK
BJP Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa leading in Shikaripura constituency
Siddaramaiah trailing in both Badami and Chamundeshwari constituencies
Trend from Karntaka is showing a thin majority for BJP even as counting of votes for the assembly elections is underway at 283 centres across the state.
It is clear now that the Lingayats backed the BJP fully because of their caste leader Yeddyurappa and the Vokkaligas supported the JDS in large numbers. The BJP getting Reddy brothers on board also seems to have worked in favour of the saffron party.
The Congress’s populist schemes, localised campaign and the Lingayat religion issues have not yielded the desired results. The Modi–Shah led BJP turned the same things against Congress and ran a powerful campaign. It was more about national issues with a local touch.
Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth counting of votes. Talking to AIR, Chief election Commissioner O P Rawat said, over 16 thousand personnel have been deployed at the counting centres.
Polling was held for 222 seats out of total 224 was held on 12th of this month. Election in Jayanagar Assembly constituency was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate while in Rajarajeswari Nagar Assembly seat it was deferred on account of electoral malpractices.
The fate of over 2,600 candidates will be decided today.