‘No chance,’ says BJP on Cong claim it would win 150 seats in Karnataka

The BJP and Congress are engaged in a war of words over how many seats each party would win in the Karnataka Assembly elections.

The BJP rejected the claim by the Congress that it would win over 150 seats. "No chance... they will not be able to reach their present number (79). They will not cross their existing number. BJP will come back with record margin," Karnataka minister, Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan told news agency ANI.

The statement came following Congress chief, D K Shivakumar's remark that his party would win over 150 seats.

Shivakumar was pointing to senior leaders, Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi joining the Congress after quitting the BJP. Both had been denied tickets by the art, which is why they joined the Congress.

Shivakumar said that he does not know the agenda of the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular). Shettar and Savadi and other have joined us. Many MLAs want to come, but we did not have a political space. We will cross 150 seats, Shivakumar also said.

After Shettar joined the Congress, senior leader, Jairam Ramesh took a dig and said that the BJO was falling like a pack of cards.

The switch by Shettar was termed as unfortunate by Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai. He however said that the BJP would eventually win the elections.

He said that the party wanted to give a chance to the young generation. Many senior leaders including B S Yediyurappa have quit for the same reason, Bommai said.

In the BJP's first list of 189, it has projected 52 new names.

Karantaka will vote on May 10, while the results will be declared on May 13.