Karnataka elections: BJP likely to win 89-95 seats, Congress 85-91, predicts ABP survey

Karnataka is heading towards a hung Assembly this year, predicted a Pre-Poll Survey conducted by ABP and Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi.

The biggest takeaway from the Karnataka opinion poll is that no one party is expected to reach the magic number of 113 in Karnataka's 224-member Assembly.

If a pre-poll survey is to be believed, BJP is set to become the single largest party with 89-95 seats while the incumbent Congress is likely to win anywhere between 85-91 seats. Deve Gowda led JDS is projected to win 32-38 seats and may emerge as the kingmaker.

Apart from seats tally, the important thing to note in the opinion polls is the vote share percentage. The difference of vote share between Congress and BJP is just 2 percent and this can play a big role in the elections as even the minor vote swing from one party to other may lead to big change in the final tally.

According to the survey, 51% of the respondents have a strong desire for changing the State government despite a positive assessment of its performance.

There are total 224 constituencies in the Karnataka assembly and party needs 113 seats for a simple majority in the Karnataka assembly.

In 2013 state elections, Congress had won 122 seats; BJP 40 and JD(S) 40.