Karnataka exit polls: BJP to emerge single largest party with 107 seats, predict ABP News C-voter

Congress May Get 82-94 Seats

Voting in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election 2018 has officially ended at 6 pm and the counting of votes will take place on May 15 (Tuesday) starting 8 am. The ABP News-C-Voter Exit poll on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to emerge as the single-largest party in Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 and the incumbent Congress will fail to retain power on May 15.

The first cut of exit polls by ABP News C-voter, based upon polling till 2 pm predicts BJP leads with 41% votes, while Congress trailing close with 39% votes.

In terms of seats, BJP leads with winning probability over 97-109 seats, Congress trails just behind with 87-99 seats, JDS has 21-30 seats, while others may win on 1-8 seats .

In the second cut of ABP News - C Voter exit poll, the Bharataiya Janata Party increased its seat tally with 101-107 seats. The second cut of ABP exit poll predicted 82-88 seats for incumbent Congress party whereas former PM HD Deve Gowda's JD(S) may get 18-31 seats on May 15. Notably, the second cut of the exit poll is based on voting till 4 PM.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress and the BJP are the main contenders for power. However, most pre-poll surveys have predicted a fractured mandate and suggested that former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's JD(S) may play the kingmaker's role.

Election Commission has said that the voter turnout has reached 70% till 6pm, however, some voters were still standing in queue even at 6pm when the voting was supposed to end.