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Journalism of Courage
With most of the exit polls giving the Congress an edge or even a clear majority in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly elections, even as some of them also predicted a hung House, the incumbent BJP led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai rejected them, claiming that the saffron party would get the numbers to form the government in the state again.
In his reaction to the exit poll results that came out after the conclusion of polling on Wednesday evening, Bommai said, “Every exit poll is showing a different figure but the complete ground report has given an absolute majority for the BJP. Exit poll results are not cent per cent perfect…Let us wait for the exact results on May 13.”
The CM also insisted that “There will be no resort politics this time as the BJP will get a clear majority. The JD(S) need not become the kingmaker”.
Commenting on the exit polls, BJP veteran and ex-CM B S Yedyiyurappa also brushed aside the exit polls outcome. “I know the pulse of the people, We will get more than 115 seats with absolute majority and we will form the government. The question of a hung Assembly does not arise at all. Even if we have to join hands with JD(S), the national leadership will take a call.”
In sharp contrast, the Congress leaders appeared to be enthused by the exit polls results.
Senior Congress leader and ex-CM Siddaramaiah exuded confidence about his party’s victory, saying he knew the pulse of the people. “I was saying from the beginning that we will win 130-150 seats. We are hoping to win the same. We will perform well in all the regions this time. In the coastal district, out of 13 districts, we had only won one seat in the last Assembly elections but this time we will win more.”
Asked whether the Bajarang Dal row did not influence the voters, Siddaramaiah said it was “not at all an election issue”. “In our manifesto, we said whoever promotes communal violence and communal politics will be dealt with strictly. We did not single out anyone. It might be pro-Hindu or pro-Muslim organisations.”
Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar said, “I don’t believe in exit polls. I have a report from the ground and we will win 141 seats. There will be no question of a hung Assembly or a coalition government this time.”
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet: “I want to thank the Babbar Sher workers and leaders of Congress for a well-run, dignified and solid people-oriented campaign. Thank you to the people of Karnataka for coming out in large numbers to vote for a progressive future.”
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy did not sound confident, conceding after the polling that his party might be restricted to just 25 seats. Blaming “financial crunch” for it, he said, “In some constituencies, the party has provided good funds but in some winnable seats, we did not provide funds, which have got affected. It is my mistake that I have not been able to support them as expected.”
