Karnataka Election: Opinion poll predicts neck and neck fight between BJP and Congress

The latest round of Zee News Opinion poll conducted by Matrize for the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 has predicted a close fight between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress.

According to the pre-poll survey, BJP is likely to win 96-106 seats, the Congress 88-98, Janata Dal-Secular 23-33 in the 224-member assembly.

With the Election Commission of India announcing election dates, the stage is set for a triangular fight in Karnataka among the ruling BJP, opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular.

The election will be held in a single-phase on May 10 while the counting of votes will take place on May 13. The tenure of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 24 May 2023.

The BJP is seeking to retain the state with party heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, campaigning in the state, while Opposition Congress tries to corner the BJP over corruption charges.

Janata Dal (Secular), the third party which can emerge as a game-changer is closing the developmets closely. Notably, the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi has described the JD(S) as its "natural ally", and has thrown its weight behind it.

The is leaving no stone unturned to woo voters, with the Basavaraj Bommai government scrapping the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota, and distributing it equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities.

While the Congress has made corruption a central theme of its campaign, pointing to various "scams" and 40 per cent commission charge by a contractors' body.

The BJP will seek to focus on various development projects and social welfare initiatives taken up by the Modi government, while the Congress and JD(S) will showcase their track record when they were in power.

Expected vote percentage

BJP - 38.3 %
Congress - 40.4%
JDS - 16.4%
Others - 4.9%

Will the Modi factor work in Karnataka?

Satisfied - 38 percent
Somewhat satisfied - 41 percent
Not satisfied - 21 percent

Bharat Jodo Yatra to help Congress?

Very beneficial - 22 percent
Somewhat beneficial - 37 percent
Not beneficial - 41 percent

Will JDS be kingmaker?

Yes - 30 percent
Maybe - 44 percent
No - 26 percent