Karnataka Election Result: Why Will BJP, Congress Come to Me, Says Kumaraswamy Amid Eyes on JDS' Possible 'Kingmaker' Role

HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (Secular), whose party is projected to be nowhere close to the majority mark in the Karnataka ssembly election as per exit poll results, said on Saturday that “there is no demand” for him.

Speaking ahead of the commencement of counting of votes, HD Kumaraswamy said both Congress and BJP have already announced that they are getting a clear mandate. “Then why will they come to me,” he said.

FOLLOW KARNATAKA ELECTION RESULT LIVE UPDATES

“In the next 2-3 hours, it will become clear. Exit polls show that the two national parties will score in a big way. The exit polls have given 30-32 seats to JD(S). I am a small party, there is no demand for me…I am hoping for a good development,” JD(S) leader and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said.

“I am a small party. Let us see what happens,” HD Kumaraswamy said.

What Do Exit Poll Results Say

Most exit polls predicted a tight contest between the Congress and BJP, however, the former was given an edge by most pollsters, which the Saffron party is confident to prove wrong. JD(S), meanwhile, appears to be expecting a hung verdict, which would enable it to play a role in government formation, or “king maker”.

While the ABP News-C Voter exit poll predicted that Congress will get 100-112 seats, BJP 83-95, JD(S) 21-29, the Republic TV-P MARQ forecast said that the Grand Old Party will get 94-108 seats, the Saffron party 85-100 and JD(S) 24-32.

India Today-Axis My India predicted 62-80 seats for BJP, 122-140 for Congress, and 20-25 for JD(S). The India TV-CNX predicted that the Congress may get 110-120 seats and the BJP 80-90 seats, while the JD(S) 20-24 seats.

The TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat exit poll projected 99-109 seats for Congress, 88-98 for BJP and 21-26 for JD(S). Zee News-Matrize forecast said that the Congress is likely to get 103-118, the BJP 79-94 and the JD(S) 25-33.

As per the News Nation-CGS poll, the BJP is likely to get 114 seats, Congress 86 and JD(S) 21. The Suvarna News-Jan Ki Baat predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party was expected to bag 94-117, Congress 91-106 and the JD(S) 14-24 seats.

Times Now-ETG exit polls predicted 113 seats to the Congress, 85 to the BJP and 23 seats for JD(S).