Congress to win over 140 seats in Karnataka polls: D K Shivakumar quotes party survey

Shivakumar also claimed that sitting MLAs from BJP and JD(S) would join the Congress in the coming days.

Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Tuesday claimed that grand-old party would win 140 seats in the upcoming Assembly election, citing an internal survey. He also hinted that several sitting legislators of the ruling Bharatiya janata Party will be joining the party in the coming days.

"Our earlier survey had projected our seat tally at 136, now our survey is projecting above 140 seats. The change has begun. We are seeing it as we travel across the state," Shivakumar told reporters.

Meanwhile 'Popular Polls' survey conducted recently predicted, Karnataka is heading for a hung Assembly.

Congress is projected to win 82-87 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly. The ruling BJP will get 82-87 seats while JD(S) will bag 42-45 seats. It clearly means JD(S) will be the kingmakers once again, as per the survey.

He was speaking to reporters after inducting two former BJP MLAs and its former Mysuru mayor into the party.

The three leaders who quit BJP and joined Congress are former Kollegala MLA G N Nanjundaswamy and Manohar Ainapur, a former MLA from Bijapur, along with former Mysuru mayor Purushottam.

"Former legislators are joining the Congress quitting the BJP. In the coming days, we will also announce the list of sitting legislators who will be joining; discussions are on in this regard. I will not reveal any names for now," Shivakumar said.

He said leaders are joining the Congress without any conditions, and accepting the party's ideology and leadership.

"Like floods, several leaders are joining the party at the district level, some prominent leaders are being inducted here. It is very clear that the public opinion is in favour of the Congress.

Further stating that only about 50 days are left for polls, Shivakumar claimed that the BJP wanted to urgently call for elections after 2022 Gujarat polls. They had held discussions with officials and had also decided on dates, but it is getting delayed, he further claimed.

"The reason is BJP feels that the more the number of days they get, it will be beneficial for them, so they are making such attempts. Every day short term tenders are happening, mobilisation of advance is happening, tenders are happening and money is being released in haste without looking at anything," he said, adding that the Congress will discuss it and come out with a stand on this to be communicated to the government.

Stating that the Congress is prepared for elections, even if it is held immediately, Shivakumar said the Election Commission, "without giving a chance for all these things to happen", should announce the poll dates immediately, and "stop this large-scale corruption that is happening".

Karnataka will go to polls by May.