Exit polls of not much use

Karnataka: After a month of intense campaigning, Karnataka voters went to elect their representatives on Saturday, May 12.

A total of 70.91% of the electorate exercised their right. The figure is likely to increase as the Election Commission has not released the final figures. The 2013 election saw a turnout of 71.45%.

Various exit polls projected the ruling Congress and the BJP running neck-and- neck and the JD(S) in the third place, with the potential to ultimately change the game.

Voting was held in 222 out of the 224 seats. Polling in two constituencies was cancelled. In Jayanagar, due to the death of a candidate and in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, due to alleged electoral malpractice. Over 2,622 candidates are in the run for seats, including 217 women. Counting is scheduled to take place on May 15. A party must cross the halfway mark of 112 to gain power.

The Election Commission’s latest update reveals that the highest percentage of polling was recorded in Chikkaballapur and Ramanagaram districts, with over 80%, while the constituencies in the neighboring Bengaluru recorded the lowest, in the range of 49-51%. This is in on par with the trend of the relative apathy of urban voters.

The first two hours saw a turnout of 24% of the 5.06 crore voters. The predictions of exit polls on the results of the Karnataka Assembly elections stand divided and thereby offer no kind of certainity.

While Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat and ABP-C Voter polls predicted BJP as the single largest party, the Times Now-VMR and India Today-Axis My India polls put Congress ahead.

The exit poll run by Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat predicted that BJP would emerge as the single largest party getting 95 to 114 seats while the ABP-C Voter gave the party 97 to 109 seats.

The two polls predicted that Congress would win between 73 and 82 and 87 and 99 seats respectively, with former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's JD (S) getting 32 to 43 and 21 to 30 seats, respectively.

News X predicted 102-110, 72-78 and 35-39 seats for the BJP, Congress and JD(S), respectively.

India Today predicted the vote share of the Congress and the BJP at 39-% and 35-%, respectively. The respective prediction by Republic TV for the two parties was 36-% and 38.25-%.

VVPAT malfunction

Polling was largely peaceful across the State except a few stray cases of group clashes in five places that left four injured.

EVM and VVPAT malfunctions were reported across the State, with the most troublesome one reported at a booth in the Hebbal constituency of Bengaluru which resulted in postponement of polls to Monday.

As polling ended, both Yedurappa and Siddaramaiah, who aspire to become CM, thanked the people for participating in the election.