As the exit poll predictions have enthused the BJP, many horses are running parallel in the saffron party in Karnataka to be part of Modi’s Cabinet. Even though, there are just few hours for the final verdict of the people, many in the State BJP are weaving dreams to be part of the new Cabinet formation in the Centre.
Both ruling Congress and the BJP are looking for a big win, but with exit poll prediction giving more than 14 seats to the BJP, many party leaders from Karnataka have started working-out plans to be in the national Capital. Though many names are doing the rounds, leaders in the saffron party believe only two will be in Modi’s team.
A senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity told The Pioneer that two to three senior BJP MPs who were expected to win are in the race to go to Delhi. I can’t name them but I leave it to your guess. There is effort by few seniors to be part of ‘team Modi’.
Exit polls on Karnataka have given tension and hopes to both the parties. Many experts believe it will have some bearing on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government if the ruling party gets less than 10 seats. However, the BJP is hoping a comeback after losing its first ever Government in the South in the May Assembly polls last year.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has made tight security arrangements for counting on Friday. According to AK Jha, Chief Electoral Officer for Karnataka, they have made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes.
He said, “We have made elaborate arrangements with foolproof security to ensure peaceful counting at all centres in the State, including four in Bangalore and one in each constituency across the districts.”
Karnataka went to polls on April 17 in a single phase when 67 per cent voters cast their votes. The State poll panel has installed closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in all centres to record the proceedings and ensure transparency in the exercise.
In all, 434 candidates, including 195 Independents and 21 women, contested the elections. Of the 28 seats, five are reserved for dalits (SCs) and two for tribals (STs).About a dozen constituencies in the State will be in the spotlight due to their high profile candidates and the political parties they represent.
Among them is Bangalore South where Infosys co-founder and technocrat Nandan Nilekani of the Congress is in the fray against five-time MP and BJP candidate NH Ananth Kumar. Also in the limelight is Bangalore Central since former Infosys director and Aam Aadmi Party candidate V Balakrishnan is pitted against outgoing BJP lawmaker PC Mohan and Youth Congress leader Rizwan Arshad.