With just three weeks to go for the Karnataka Assembly polls, a survey conducted by the ABP News-Lokniti CSDS gave the BJP a few seats ahead of the ruling Congress in the State, announcing clearly that Karnataka is heading towards a ‘hung Assembly’.

As already reported, the single-phase Karnataka Assembly polls would be held on 12th May.  Ruling Congress led by chief-minister Siddaramaiah is making a strong, pro-Kannadiga bid to retain power in the State even as former chief-minister Yediyurappa of the BJP is planning to upset the Congress’ apple-cart.

The survey conducted jointly by ABP News and Lokniti CSDS gave 89-95 seats to the BJP, 85-91 seats to the Congress and 32-38 seats to the Janata Dal(Secular) headed by former prime-minister Deve Gowda.  As per the poll prediction, JD(S) would become the ‘king-maker’ in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly polls as it is clear that neither the Congress nor the BJP would be able to form a Govt. without its support.

Opinion poll results have been coming thick and fast in the past few days.  A recent survey by ‘India Today’ said that though the BJP’s vote-share might have gone up significantly when compared to last Assembly polls, it would still be not enough for the party to win a majority of its own.  Whichever party of group of parties wants to form the Govt. would have to enjoy the support of a minimum of 113 MLAs.

Counting of votes would be taken up on 15th May as a new Govt. has to be put in place before 24th May when Siddaramaiah’s 5-year long tenure expires.