Lingayat card fails to impress, BJP heading towards victory in North

According to initial trends, it is clear that the Lingayat card played by CM Siddaramaiah is not yielding expected results to the Congress party.

To remain the contest the Congress has to grab more number of seats out of 90 assembly seats in Hyderabad-Karnataka and Bombay-Karnataka region. Hyderabad-Karnataka 40 seats and Bombay-Karnataka 50 seats where dominant Lingayat community play a pivotal role.

In 2013 assembly elections, the Congress had won 23 seats and BJP got only 5 seats. The JDS remained in the third position with only 5 seats in Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

In Bombay-Karnataka, Congress managed to get 31 and suffered a massive defeat to get only BJP-13, KJP-1, BSR-2 JDS 5, BSR 1

However, the initial trends tell a different story. The BJP is leading in most of Lingayat belt, the minority status given by CM Siddharamaiah is not helping the Congress.

As per the latest reports, Congress leading in 73, BJP -73 and HD Deve Gowda's JDS+ is ahead in 33 seats.