Karnataka election opinion poll 2018: Will BJP defeat Congress? Surveys so far suggest surprise results

Karnataka election 2018: It is still too early to predict which party will win Karnataka assembly election 2018, which is likely to take place in April this year but opinion polls have predicted surprise results.

Karnataka election 2018: It is still too early to predict which party will win Karnataka assembly election 2018, which is likely to take place in April this year. Both parties are claiming that they will come back to power. On Sunday, PM Modi predicted in Bengaluru that Congress is set to lose in the upcoming elections. Addressing BJP's Parivartana rally, Modi said, "Congress is standing at the exit gate in Karnataka. It has caused destruction here and Karnataka doesn’t need a Congress culture."

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Ahead of the high-octane electoral battle in Karnataka, Congress has accused BJP of using polarisation as a tool for getting votes. Karnataka CM Siddaramiah is also certain of continuing to the rule the state. However, opinion polls have suggested so far that both BJP and Congress would be surprised with the result. In fact, both of them may not get a majority on their own and the JD(S) may gain at the cost of BJP and Congress. Responding to Modi, Siddaramiah had said on Monday, "He did not speak as prime minister. He has uttered a tissue of lies and made baseless and irresponsible allegations," Siddaramaiah

In January last month, a "mystery" pre-poll survey presented a very bleak chance of a clear win for either BJP or Congress. The survey carried out by a poll agency named CHS said there was a very strong chance of hung assembly in Karnataka. The survey predicted 77-81 seats for Congress, 73-76 seats for BJP and 64-66 seats for the JD(S). The survey prediction was sent to people through Whatsapp group. Some of them also feature local politicians. The poll agency claimed to have surveyed around 2000 people in every constituency of the state.

Another opinion poll by TV9-C Voter had claimed last month that the JD(S) will likely play the role of a kingmaker after the assembly elections in the state. The opinion poll predicted that the Congress would be the largest party with 102 seats, while BJP will likely win 96 seats. The JD(S) may end up with 25 seats.

There are total 224 constituencies in the Karnataka assembly and party needs 113 seats for a simple majority in the Karnataka assembly.

Suvarna news survey, which was published towards the end of 2017, had predicted that the BJP would get 82, Congress-88 and JD(S) will get 11 while others will win in 11 constituencies.