BJP, JD(S) ahead of Cong after phase I in K'taka: Exit Poll

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) The BJP and the JD(S) are running neck and neck and much ahead of the Congress in the first phase of Assembly elections in Karnataka, according to an exit poll.

The exit poll, conducted by NDTV, predicted that the BJP would win 31 of the 89 seats where polling was held today.

The JD(S) would emerge winner in 30 Assembly constituencies while the Congress could bag only 23 seats, it said.

While the exit poll showed a gain of 11 seats for the BJP, it predicted a loss of six and five seats for the JD(S) and the Congress respectively.

The exit poll projection for 28 seats in Bangalore suggested that the BJP would bag 14 seats followed by the Congress with 10 and the JD(S) four.

The seats swing showed a four per cent gain for the BJP and a loss of the four per cent for the Congress. The JD(S) position remained same with no swing in favour or against reported.

The exit poll projection for 61 seats, excluding Bangalore, suggested that the JD(S) would emerge winner from 26 seats followed by the BJP with 17 and the Congress 13.

While the exit poll predicted a downward slide of two and one per cent for the Congress and the JD(S) respectively, the BJP gained a swing of three per cent in its favour.

The NDTV had taken sample size of 7248 voters across 30 constituencies while the fieldwork was done by IMRB.

An estimated 59.84 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly for 89 seats in eleven districts today.

The second phase of elections for 69 seats in ten districts would be held on May 16, followed by the third and final phase polls for 66 seats in eight northern districts on May 22.

The counting of votes will take place on May 25.

UNI AG RR AS2254