Another opinion poll predicts hung assembly in Karnataka

NEW DELHI: With just three days ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, another opinion poll has predicted a hung assembly and a tight race for the crown in the state. A pre-poll survey conducted by NewsX-CNX on Tuesday ruled out an absolute majority to any party in Karnataka. According to the survey, the incumbent Congress party is likely to emerge as the single-largest party by winning 90 seats while the BJP may get 87 seats. HD Deve Gowda's JD(S) is projected to win 39 seats and may emerge as the kingmaker in the tightly contested elections. Other parties including the independents may gather 7 seats. An opinion poll by India TV on Wednesday also predicted a hung house in Karnataka. According to the survey, the BJP likely to win 85 seats, the Congress 96 and JD(S) 38 seats. Karnataka will hold elections for its 224-seat assembly on May 12 and the result will be announced three days later. The Congress in 2013 had won a massive 113 seats while B JP and JDS had won 50 and 40 seats respectively. Earlier on Monday, a survey conducted by ABP News-CSDS also projected a hung assembly in Karnataka. The survey showed that the Congress could win 97 seats in a House of 225, while the BJP led by BS Yeddyurappa is projected to win 84 seats. The opinion poll projected the JD(S) may emerge as the kingmaker with 37 seats. The ABP News-CSDS survey said the Congress will get 38 per cent of votes, the BJP 33 per cent and the JD (S), which has entered into a pre-poll alliance with the BSP, may get 22 per cent vote share. Siddaramaiah was the top choice for the chief ministerial post among the respondents with 33 per cent favouring the Karnataka Congress face. BJP's CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa was not so far behind and was the choice of 27 per cent of the people surveyed. Deve Gowda's son and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy received the support of 22 per cent of the people.